All About a Character — By Guest Mom Kristy Glass

The younger me as Little Orphan Annie.

If you feel a little self-conscious about becoming someone else for the night, here are a few tips to help you shed the jitters, and have a good time.

Karaoke.
My husband was Billy Ray Cyrus last year, and he became Billy as soon as Achy Breaky Heart came over the speakers.

Phrases!
If you are playing someone from a book or movie, skim-read it for dialogue or re-watch the movie. IMDB is also a good source of quotes from movies. Or call that one friend that knows quotes from everything. This year my Judy Jetson has been practicing: “Outer-galactic!” and “Far-Out!” For the cowboys, check out cowboy sayings. For the pirates out there, pre-plan your phrases on this site.

Theme-dress.
If you and a buddy or your family all dress as a theme, you can take that to an extreme. You can speak in like dialect/accent/language!, act out a scene, improvise a scene, the sky's the limit.

Dance!
If your costume comes from an era like the 20’s, 50’s or 70’s....brush up on your moves and dance in character when the music starts at your Halloween party.

Hide.
If you are too shy, get a mask so that nobody knows it’s you.

Dressing up and getting into character for the night is fun for someone like me who enjoys playing a role, but I know it’s not for everyone. Maybe a few of these tips will help you loosen up and get into Halloween this year.

Thanks for having me! ~Kristy

Find more from Kristy at her blog Glass Posse.

All about Halloween Eve — by Guest Mom Kristy Glass

It crept up on you right? Your kids look at you disappointedly when they realize you have not planned a Halloween costume for yourself (or maybe even for them! whoops!). A few last-minute winners that I have seen over the years:

Be a color:
Dress solo or as a group — green-earth theme, orange/white/yellow=candycorns, a rainbow, a flag, school colors! If I were pink, I’d wear this beard. Grab every piece of clothing you have in one color, this is educational for young ones too! While you're at it, sort your closet by color...it looks pretty!

Crayons:
Kristie made these crayon costumes (seen above) for her family with paper. Gotta love paper crafts that you can do the night before!

Subway Train Sign:
Natasha did not make this last minute (also see above), but if you have a piece of felt, a magic marker and a glue gun, you could make a less-than-perfect version of this costume. For a full list of the subway lines, click here.

Get Literal:
Plastic spiders are plentiful this time of year. I witnessed a couple glue a ton of them to t-shirts and proclaim themselves Spider Man and Spider Woman. Another fun use for plastic spiders is to stick them in your hair or ears or other creative places.

My friend Helen velcroed a babydoll to her butt to become a Babysitter. Brilliant!

Blacked-eyed P's — You guessed it, a letter P on a t-shirt and a black eye, you have to do this as a pair to be peaZ.

Find more from Kristy at her blog Glass Posse.

All in the Alternatives — By Guest Mom Kristy Glass

Haunted house image here.

My Dad is a dentist, so when we gathered our treats for Halloween to give away to the neighborhood kids, not only did we have the sweets, we also gave out toothbrushes with my Dad’s business address and phone number. A tiny part of me thought it was lame that my Dad did this, but most of me thought it was a pretty great idea. I had never gotten a toothbrush on Halloween before, I thought it was original.

When we got home, we would sort through our findings, trade with our siblings, your favorite for mine....until everyone was super satisfied. My faves: Kit Kats, Peanut M & Ms, Snickers and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. Those are still my faves, but I developed a peanut allergy after I finished my pregnancy with my second child, so now I am just mad when I see all of my faves in my kids pumpkins.

This year my daughter’s school is sponsoring Healthy Halloween. Without knowing all the details, I have been thinking about alternatives to sugar treats, and junky plasticky stuff. Ideas....GO!:

-MEMORY game-using classmates photos or halloween images on back of cards
-Slap bracelets (they’re back!) I’ve spotted them at Oriental Trading Co. and Claire’s Accessories
-Homemade Halloween Bookmarks
-Homemade Necklaces
-Instruments...we have a beloved maraca made out of a witches head.
-My favorite idea (probably for a small group of children as opposed to handing it out to the neighborhood): Halloween Music CD

My fave halloween tracks:

Justin Roberts:
Maybe the Monster (Meltdown!)
Thought it was a Monster (Yellowbus)

Harry Connick, Jr. Songs I Heard Album:
Spoonful of Sugar, Jitterbug, Land of Oz, Candy Man

Oingo Boingo:
Who do you want to be?
Weird Science
When the Lights Go Out

Barbra Streisand:
Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf
Ding-Dong, the witch is dead

Laurie Berkner:
Chock-o-lot in my Pock-o-lot

What are your favorite candy alternatives?

Find more from Kristy at her blog Glass Posse.

All About the Makeup — by Guest Mom Kristy Glass

This is me as the "Book Witch" and as Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. I did the makeup myself(!).

A few years ago, my daughter’s kindergarten teacher and I planned a Halloween Surprise for her class. I was to come in as the Book Witch and read some Halloween stories to the children. I love surprises so much, so I did not tell my daughter anything about this, and I wanted to be unrecognizable to her and her classmates.

My mind immediately turned to the Broadway production of Wicked and the green makeup that Elphaba wears. I emailed a makeup artist friend of mine to see if she could give me some tips on how to transform my face into a witch. She suggested I visit Alcone, a makeup company in Manhattan. I zipped over there and waited in line for the makeup artist of The Little Mermaid to plow through her very long list of needs, and felt quite sheepish when all I asked for was Elphaba Green. Unfortunately they did not have that green, so I settled for more of an emerald color of Kryolan’s Aqua.

I also wanted to have a prosthetic nose, but I am allergic to latex, and could not find any noses that were latex-free. Instead I picked up some wax and glued some warts onto my face. The other important element of the Book Witch Makeup was Mac’s Pigment in “Push the Edge”, which is a purple color. I used it to accent my cheeks, lips and eyes. I had purple going on with the hat I bought at Ricky’s and the purple gloves. As for the costume itself...I just threw on all the black clothes in my closet and sprayed a little black in my hair.

I brought my books along in a vintage Samsonite, bright pink train case, as opposed to a cauldron or black basket or jack-o-lantern. I wanted to be less witchy and more booky because some parents had expressed concerns about Witch Lore and I didn’t want to give the wrong message to the impressionable young children. The teacher is convinced that my daughter didn’t recognize me, and I am pretty sure none of the other children recognized me until little sister landed on the scene, suddenly it was pretty obvious who was under all that makeup. My daughter insists she was never fooled. She’s been known to lie.

My Top 5 Halloween Book Witch Read-Alouds:

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
Room on the Broom Book by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
In the Haunted House by Eve Bunting
The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz
The Halloween Play by Felicia Bond

Last year my daughter wanted me to be Maleficent to her Princess Aurora. I purchased the costume and staff and was disappointed with the quality of the frock. I spruced it up by stuffing the foam-shaped Antlers with poly-fil and putting a back on them, then twirling some purple cord around each point, but I knew what would really sell the costume would be my face.

I studied graphics from the film, but mostly studied a Golden Book Version of Sleeping Beauty that we already had on our bookshelf. I ordered the Aqua color that was closest to Maleficent’s turquoise hue and then I was all set. I had the purple pigment from Book Witch the year before and the black paint from my Mrs. Incredible costume already in my stores, so I didn’t need to buy anything else. The photo at top was taken after my third try at applying this makeup, and I think it turned out really well: red lips, yellow around the eyes, purple eyeshadow, exaggerated eyebrows, and that sallow, turquoise skin. Spooky.

Great makeup can make a costume go from good to great, or can be the costume itself. Just looking at those aqua colors I had a few ideas come to mind right away: silver-ghoul, dark blue-blue man group, Violet — that girl from charlie and the chocolate factory who turns into a blueberry, yellow-banana...use your imagination and make sure you practice before the night of Halloween!

Find more from Kristy at her blog Glass Posse.

All In The Details — by Guest Mom Kristy Glass

When the store-bought costume is not doing it for you, you gotta take things into your own hands. When I decided; “I am going to be Mrs. Incredible,” and I found Disney’s Mrs. Incredible costume online to be UNcredible, I needed to take matters into my own hands.

I pulled up an image of Mrs. Incredible from the Pixar film and compared the two side by side: What? Horror! I was amazed at how lame Disney’s offering was.



The boots were not tall enough, neck too thin, and where are the gloves? I started staring at this cartoon picture and trying to figure out how my non-seamstress self could make my own costume.

I ordered black gloves, black briefs, black tall boots and a full-body red unitard. I stopped by the fabric store to get some orange and black stretch fabric to add to the waistband and neck of the unitard. I also picked up some felt and glitter to create the “i” graphic on the chest.

My sewer friend whipped that orange waistband on the briefs and the black on the outside of the neck. I spent an evening burning my fingers (literally) glueing that incredible logo together. The last thing I needed to do was order the black makeup from Ben Nye, and voila! I had a much more incredible costume then the store-bought, and for around the same price.

As an added bonus, I already had a short sassy hairdo similar to Mrs. I, and the big booty to boot!



I know this is a good costume because 4 other friends have borrowed it. I have also worn it for school appearances at my daughter’s schools and sometimes the prospect of wearing that costume again someday in the future, is all the motivation I need to do my morning workout.

This year I have used the Mrs. Incredible Model to put together 2 costumes that I am pleased-as-punch about.

My daughter will be Olivia Pig, from the Olivia books by Ian Falconer. Her outfit is modeled after the illustration on the cover of Olivia Counts. Each piece (striped tights, striped shirt, white blouse, jumper) will be worn the rest of the year as separates and together for upcoming holidays (Christmas, Valentine’s Day). I had no guilt purchasing these items as they will be worn again! (Unlike the Judy Jetson store-bought catastrophe that looks cute but wears MEH, that my other daughter insisted upon purchasing!)

I had to make the ears and for fun I made a duct-tape purse to go with it. I enjoy having a little hand-made bit of the costume, preferably one that does not involve me sewing.



Also this year I have used the Mrs. Incredible Model for my own costume. I chose to be Cruella Deville, circa 1960’s. I bought each piece off ebay: red boots, red gloves, black vintage dress, white furry coat, wig. After studying the cartoon drawings of Ms. Deville, I decided to get some green jewelry as well. My good friend etsy helped me find just the right set of earrings and a ring.

So, there you have it! Incredible Costumes, to make your Halloween the most memorable!

Find more from Kristy at her blog Glass Posse.

Welcome Kristy Glass!

Photo by Rachel Gundersen

I'm so delighted to have Kristy Glass with us this week! I have only briefly met her in real life (and under odd circumstances, where we had to whisper quick hellos), but I've been exchanging emails with her since I started blogging and feel like she's an old friend. Here's Kristy's introduction in her own words:

-------------------------

In a recent audition, I was interviewed to see how much I knew about entertainment, celebrities and pop culture. I was asked if I read US Weekly or “the blogs”. Sadly I could not answer in the affirmative. “Then, what is your favorite blog?”

“DESIGN MOM!”

Thanks for having me.

I’m an urban mom of two daughters, thanks to my husband of 11 years, who pushed me to finish college even though I was being lured away by that intoxicating world of the theatre. After graduating in 3 jam-packed years, I pursued my dream of ACTING in Washington DC. There I had a lot of great success, including doing 2 different shows while I was pregnant with my first baby! 5 weeks after her birth, I was back in the theatre one last time in DC before picking up and moving to Queens, NY in 2002.

I am a working mother and I strive to spend as much time with my children as possible. I do not have a nanny. My career has now expanded beyond theatre to singing, recording, modeling, baby wrangling and tv, which basically means, I am a professional job-seeker. I have dragged my babies (now children) to 90% of my auditions and they have even accompanied me on a few jobs.

My interests include blogging, writing, photography, makeup, working out, church service, journaling, networking, reading, online grocery shopping, MACing, and knitting for the lovescarf project. I spend hours a day riding the subway to make sure my children are dropped off and picked up at their respective schools on the upper west side and lower east side (remember, I live in Queens). I attend suzuki violin lessons twice a week with my daughter and practice with her for an hour most days. I have recently discovered the iphone, jogging and Raisenets made with Cranberries (not in combination).


As an actor, one of my favorite holidays is Halloween. I pretty much know who I am going to be for Halloween by January of every year, and enjoy spending the rest of the year finding just the right details to make my costume complete. It’s contagious, my whole family is into it. I hope I can add to your holiday this year, and if not, maybe you can start planning Halloween 2010 in a few months!

Preserving Children's Artwork — by Guest Mom Carrie Lundell

Who doesn't love their child's drawings? Many children express themselves through art far better than the written or even spoken word, so the attachment is understandable. Yet who among us hasn't thought about chucking every last piece of art when the pile coming home from school, added to what is created at home, threatens to take over every inch of the refrigerator door and fill every drawer in the house?

Here's the million-dollar question: what is worth keeping and what gets tossed (during the night and placed in the outside garbage under mounds of food scraps so there is no evidence of the cruel mommy who doesn't think every piece of her child's art is beautiful and worth saving)? Here's what I do:



1. Display the Art
Even for just a day. If your child is proud of their artwork, show it off. Right now, we use simple magnet clips on the side of the fridge. For a cleaner presentation, this company produces frames that open on hinges, allowing you to swap out your child's art easily and often. Just last week I came upon this ingenious DIY frame with the same purpose and I like it even more. A cute little clothesline like this works famously too.

2. You Save, I Save
Each of my children gets their own "treasure box." They are allowed to keep anything they want in their box, but it must fit in the box. New art often replaces old art in their boxes as they constantly work to make sure the lid stays on the box. I also have my own acid-free "treasure box" for each of them and hold myself to the same rule — I can't save more than what will fit in the box. I save only the most special drawings. They are usually the ones with good stories attached, or where it's obvious my child has spent more than her usual attention span, and I always save "firsts". Like the first time my child drew a circle with arms growing out of the sides and called it "mom" instead of the typical scribbles.



3. Preserve with a (re)Purpose
Preserving your child's art in an acid-free box is one thing, but using it as inspiration to create something else takes preservation to a whole new level. My children love seeing their art come to life as "softies", handkerchief embroidery, carved pumpkins, personalized neckties, t-shirt transfers, and Christmas ornaments. I will admit the time I spend creating with their art might partly be my way of making up for the fact that I throw the majority of their artwork in the trash. If sewing is not your thing, this company creates sterling silver pins out of your child's art and this shop will turn their art into a sweet little pendant, both perfect for gifting.



Whatever you decide to save, make sure to write the child’s name and date on it.Also, remember to record and attach “the story” if it has one. It's all going to be vital information down the road. You always think you’ll remember, but you won’t.

Thanks to Gabrielle for having me here this week. I’ve had a great time sharing with all of you! I hope you’ll take the time to create, preserve and share your family heirlooms.

Putting Heirlooms to Good Use — by Guest Mom Carrie Lundell

Family heirlooms wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and stored safely away from sticky fingers in a cedar chest will easily last for the next 100 years, but the joy and meaning that comes from pulling treasured items out of storage and repurposing them for greater use in our lives is sometimes worth the risk of a slightly shorter heirloom "shelf-life". Hopefully none of you think my ideas are akin to the horrors of painting a piano (which I love, BTW).

-Turn a piece of Grandma's old china into a dessert stand to use at family special occasions.

-Can't bear to part with a concert T full of memories from your youth? Let it live on in all it's glory as a newborn baby gown.

-Grandma's sweet, old linens can be turned into beautiful Easter dresses.



-Think about splitting up Great Grandma's unfinished quilt tops and turning them into numerous baby blankets, children's clothes and even throw pillows.

-If you are lucky enough to have a hanky collector in your family, baby bonnets, curtains, and wall hangings are all great options for putting them to good use in a place besides your runny nose.

-Favorite childhood toys can become decor for your child's room and stay protected when displayed in a shadow box.



-Avid crocheters will usually leave behind stacks of beautiful doilies that no one knows what to do with. Use them to accessorize clothing or integrate them into your home decor.

If you are not lucky enough to have these types of family heirlooms lying around (I have to supplement) but still have a hankering for a "family heirloom-esque" project, items from garage sales, estate sales and thrift stores can easily be substituted for any of the above. Not quite as meaningful, but fun nonetheless.



Find more of Carrie at This Momma Makes Stuff.

Journal Roundup — by Guest Mom Carrie Lundell

It's pretty safe to say blogging has become a new type of journaling. Count me among the people who have tried to ditch the traditional pen to paper, hoping my blog posts will include enough personal history to leave an impact on my posterity. As much as a blog (even printed in book form) helps preserve precious memories, nothing beats the soul of a handwritten, personal journal. But that doesn't mean your handwritten journal needs to be traditional.

Check out these options:

1) Struggle with your personal narrative? Record your life in lists.

2) Are you a bibliophile? Sure, you can share what you've read on GoodReads, but keep a handwritten list too.

3) Do you have vivid dreams? Record them in a dream journal along with interpretations.

4) Don't forget to include the kids! We lament how they "grow up too fast" and struggle to perfectly capture their childhood personality. A child's handwritten journal will not only become a priceless keepsake, but the act of journaling develops a child's verbal and writing skills, releases fear, frustration and anxiety as well as promotes self-awareness and increased self-esteem. Starting them young can also help create a habit of journaling that can last well into their adult years. I created the "This is Me" kid's journal as an easy way for parents to help their children record memories through writing and drawings from as young as 3 years old.

5) With this great, little kids travel journal, your family vacation can be recorded from a whole new perspective.

6) Useful Books upcycled cereal box journals are as unique as your tween — even making pre-teenage "angst" look cute.

Pick a book, grab a pen and join me in some old school journaling. Your kids will thank you for it.

Find more of Carrie at This Momma Makes Stuff.

Welcome Carrie Lundell!

photo credit: James Carson Photography

Note from Design Mom: How happy am I that I get to introduce a new Guest Mom? So super happy. Meet Carrie Lundell. Beautiful. Smart. Creative. You're going to love everything she has to offer. Here's a quick intro straight from our guest:

I'm so delighted to be a guest mom here at Design Mom this week. Not sure how I am supposed to follow the fantastic news and beautiful posts from last week! What I can say, as someone who has always loved being part of a large family, is that I couldn't be more happy for Gabrielle and the new addition to the Blair family.

Now, a little about me. First, I've been married to a great guy for just over 13 years (any other teenage brides in the house?) and together we make really cute kids (three so far). Before the mini-van, I graduated with a degree in Fashion Design and worked designing little girls clothing for a few different companies, the most well-known being Old Navy in NYC (if you want to tell me their little girls stuff was cuter back then, you totally can). While designing for money has become a thing of the past for me, designing for pleasure will always continue on. And honestly? I get to live a way more creative life now than I did back then.

When it comes to all things creative, however, I tend to be a little ADD, never sticking to one medium or project for very long (as evidenced by the range of projects recorded on my personal blog,This Mama Makes Stuff. Beyond my creative side, my interests span from mountain biking & garage sale-ing to public school advocacy and karaoke. Two years ago, I added business ownership on top of it all when I decided to create and independently publish a kid's journal. With interests, responsibilities and loves constantly pulling me in all directions, I have been trying to shed the self-given, "attention deficit" label and try on the more beautiful label of "renaissance woman". Sounds better, right?

This week, on Design Mom, I'll be posting about a few of my biggest loves: family heirlooms, histories, and keepsakes. Don't worry, no scrapbooking or geneology required (just maybe a little rummaging, sewing, and reflecting). Hope you get a chance to read, share, and get inspired!

How To: Smoky Eyes — by Guest Mom Allison Czarnecki

I adore smokey eyes more than words. There's something so gorgeously alluring about them, and they look really complicated and intricate so you can trick people into thinking you spend a lot of time on your makeup. Because stuff like that matters.

I've long coveted the eye makeup of someone whose name rhymes with Jim Bardashian. I can't bring myself to say her real name, but her make-up is ridiculous. And by ridiculous I mean awesome. So, I *might* have spent some time on her website and some more time looking at magazine shots of her face. *Sigh*, I know.

We're back to square one. Remember the blank canvas? Pretend the pictures are right here because that's where you want to start.






That wasn't even hard at all, right? And I need to point out that a smokey eye doesn't have to be done with black, it can be done with any color. Smokey is just a style. Purple is really hot this fall and I'm dying to do a smokey eye in plum.



Never ever, ever leave the house with smokey eyes and red lipstick. It's too much. Nude lips are what you're after. And by that I mean almost opaque beige. Or you can go with Saavex, which I do on a regular basis.

Wasn't that fun? I honestly can't help myself when it comes to cosmetics. Thanks so much for having me on Design Mom this week, I had a ball. And my crazy talented dear friend wanted me to point out that I never mentioned where my husband was from when I told you he's an immigrant, like it must have been a bad place. For the record, he's Polish.

You can find more of Allison at Petit Elephant.

How To: Everyday Eye Makeup — By Guest Mom Allison Czarnecki

I'm not implying for one second that any of you don't know how to apply makeup. I just happen to live and breathe all things beauty, and if someone had shown me how to do this several years ago it would have saved me hours in front of the mirror. But that's half the fun right? I'm going to show you how to do two looks: everyday and a smoky eye. The top pic shows you everything I use to create the magic.

I'm a MAC makeup devotee. I still have MAC eyeshadow pots from college; they're really high quality and they last forever. If you don't know what colors look good on you, book a make-up session at your local makeup counter {it's free} or enlist the help of a stylish friend to give you some ideas.



Honestly, makeup is a little bit addictive. I can't remember a time my toenails weren't painted {really truly} and it's a bad day if I'm not wearing at least lip gloss. I had samples of Avon lipstick in my underwear in Kindergarten and I'm always trying to make-over at least one of my girlfriends. It's a sickness.

Here is what I do for everyday makeup:








Wasn't that easy? Takes me 5 minutes max and I look so much more polished when I'm done. Next up: smokey eyes.

How To Wear A Scarf — by Guest Mom Allison Czarnecki

Scarves are still all the rage in the fashion world right now and I'm breathing a collective sigh of relief for all of us, because scarves are hawt. They're our friends, and we want to keep them around for as long as possible. Or until the Europeans are done with them, whichever comes first.

The sky is the limit with scarves. Think of them as just one more accessory in your arsenal of hotness. Wear a scarf in place of a necklace; it can compliment a really cute plain tee and make you look just that much more put together. If you don't know how to wear one no worries, I'm about to show you. I'll even hold your hand every step of the way.



1. Drape your scarf lengthwise down your arm.
2. Fold it in half.
3. Pull the halved scarf behind your neck. Hold open one side with your fingers. With your other hand hold onto the tassels.
4. While holding open the halved end of the scarf, push the tassels through the hole.
5. Pull tight.



You ready to try another one?



1. Hang scarf loosely around your neck. Make sure it's about evenly divided.
2. Loop the piece of scarf in your left hand all the way around your neck until it comes back around the front.
3. Now we're all back at the front again right?
4. Even up the sides and pull tight around your neck.



If we want to get crazy and take it one step further we can wrap the ends around and tuck in, like so.



See? Totally painless, and now you can accessorize with the best of them. What do you think? Do you have some great scarf tying tips the rest of us need to know?

Find more from Allison at Petit Elephant.

An Outfit for Fall — by Guest Mom Allison Czarnecki

I live in Utah, so I live for sweater season. You would too if sweater season started in September and lasted until May! Anyway, it's finally time to pull my old favorite sweaters from the back of the closet so I can mix the wardrobe up a bit.

I have a new favorite cardigan already, and I thought it would be fun to share an outfit I've come up with using the sweater. Longer, cardigan sweaters are all the hotness this season. Pair them with skinny jeans or leggings for a perfect all-around-town look.

What do you think, are you a fan? I have a feeling I'm going to live in long sweaters, leggings, and boots this Winter. And that's a good thing.

Find more from Allison at Petit Elephant.

How To Wear Jewelry — by Guest Mom Allison Czarnecki

I'm a big fan of jewelry. Cheap jewelry, expensive jewelry, I love it all. My favorite pieces of jewelry are my wedding ring and a pair of earrings I bought on the street in New York City for $1. I don't really discriminate when it comes to pretty baubles.



Friends ask me all the time: how do you know what to wear together? I don't know actually, there really isn't a science to it. I don't really care what's hot or what's not, I just know what I love and will wear regularly. If you find something you love, you'll find a way to wear it.



The trick is not to wear it all at the same time. Sometimes I see photos of celebrities wearing 10 pieces of jewelry and they're all competing with each other; you don't really get to appreciate each piece. To me that's missing the whole point of jewelry, which is frankly a travesty.



Here's my general rule of thumb for accessorizing an outfit: wear one statement piece, the rest will complement. So if I'm wearing a big ring, I won't wear a big bracelet. If I have on huge earrings I either skip a necklace or tone it way, way down. Make sense?

My go to places for finding great accessories: Forever 21, Charlotte Russe and Stella & Dot.

When I visit big cities like New York or L.A. I buy jewelry off the street for less than $5 each piece. It doesn't have to cost a lot to wear cool jewelry but when you find something you love, snatch it up. You never know when you might find just the right necklace on a street corner in San Francisco.

Find more from Guest Mom Allison at her blog Petit Elephant.

Welcome, Allison!

Hey Friends. I've got a happy announcement today. We've got a rad Guest Mom in the house! There's been a bit of a Guest Mom break as summer travel and kids-out-of-school took over everyone's lives. But September is here and that means schedules are back in place and that means Guest Moms are back on the schedule.

We're starting up the Fall Season with Allison Czarnecki of Petit Elephant. I met Allison a couple of summers ago at an outdoor showing of The Muppet Movie. She brought me yummy homemade jam and (not coincidentally) captured my heart. I'll let Allison tell you a bit about herself in her own words.

5 things about me:

1. I'm the mother of two beautiful children: a 9-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son, which is the most defining and important part of who I am.



2. I'm married to an immigrant. He claims to have a firm grasp on the English language {he's been in the U.S. since he was 9} but I disagree. He wasn't a citizen when we got married and contrary to popular belief, marrying a citizen of the U.S. doesn't really speed up the immigration process. I don't really care where he came from, he's the love of my life.



3. I threw a wicked cool party at BlogHer this year. The stress of it nearly killed me, but it was one of the proudest moments of my life. Bringing together corporate sponsors with my favorite bloggers? Well, it makes me emotional just thinking about it.



4. I unintentionally stalk bloggers I adore until we're besties. {You're next Ree}. Stalk is such an ugly word; it implies un-reciprocated love. It's cool if I call you Gabby right?

5. I blog daily at Petit Elefant my family lifestyle blog, but I'm all over the place because I. Love. Blogging. Can't wait to hang out on Design Mom this week & share some of the things I love.

Thanks for having me, Gabby.

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String — by Guest Mom Stacy

My heart is both heavy & racing. Heavy because it is Friday, my last day as guest mom. I was soooo scared (read: intimidated) to do this, feeling in the presence of greatness each time I read Design Mom. But once I started, it felt like a window was opened, with the best cool wind breezing through. My mind flooded with all sorts of things I wanted to share. But would anyone care to read them? Can’t stop — it felt so great to write, and post, and rush home from “regular” work to see my post on a real live blog. With real live comments. From real live wonderful people. I might just have to keep writing. Funny how you can fit things in when they truly feed your soul.

So for my last post, I’ve collected a sort of “favorite things” list (I love reading lists!) Things that are essential in my world. Things that in common, share a sort of beauty, comfort, & simplicity.

1. Gap boyfriend jeans. Please believe, after 17 years, I have amassed quite a collection of jeans. And I have donated many of those. My definition of a great pair of jeans are any pair I can wear on my day off — because I WANT to. And these are the best pair Gap has ever ever made. I actually have 2 pairs, as does my friend Jen. We nearly sold out of them before they hit the sales floor because so many associates bought them. They are that good!



2. Waldorf mobiles. My best friend from college first discovered these at a Waldorf school in new york. She hung one in her daughter’s room, and I have been smitten ever since. Wool roving is such an amazing material. Paired with stars — unmatched in its beauty.



3. Ruth Krauss & Maurice Sendak. I first discovered the book A Hole Is to Dig at an Anthropologie store a few years ago. I was captivated by the tiny drawings & brilliant definitions of everyday things. A couple years later, I happened upon Charlotte and The White Horse and I'll Be You and You Be Me. Again, the sweet line drawings coupled with moving words written by an adult yet echoing the true sentiment of childhood proved that the collaboration of these two was nothing short of magical. Whether you have children or not, little or grown, I promise you will love these books. They’ll make you smile, they’ll bring a tear to your eye, because that special optimism & innocence of childhood never ever leaves you. Thank goodness.




4. Ghiradelli semi-sweet chocolate chips. When I was little, I thought it was so special to have chocolate chips in the house (my mom did not care to bake, so when chips were around, it was something!) I vowed that “when I grow up…” I will always have chocolate chips on hand. And I do. And these are the best. I truly eat them every day. We (I) go through a bag a week. At least. They are good mixed with cereal (no milk). They are good on ice cream. And they are good alone. Go buy some now. You won’t be sorry. (Oh—they are good for baking, too. But I don’t very often because as a grown-up I am responsible enough to know that I will eat the lion’s share of the cookies. And my kids will get mad.)



5. Robert Ryan. In a way, Rob Ryan is not about simplicity. Or comfort. But beauty — for days! I recently discovered his work and cannot stop looking at it. Rob is an artist in London who creates exquisite works with scissors & paper — which I guess at its heart is simple, but oh, the detail! I gave his book This Is for You to my husband for father’s day, and pray that someday we can own one of Rob’s breathtaking works of art.

I know I could go on, but I will stop here. 5 is a tidy list.

Thank you Gabrielle. For blindly believing that I could be a guest mom in the footsteps of so many other great ones before me. For your kind readers and their kind comments. For the joy I have felt writing and sharing this week I wish I could wrap it all up in a bow and send it to you. You’re the best!

Once Upon A Time — by Guest Mom Stacy

Magazines became a part of my being at age 11 when I decided I wanted a haircut, a short one. My mom is a beautician, but trained in the 60’s, she was more comfortable with beehives & back-combs. So she bought me my first fashion magazine ever. Seventeen magazine. I was hooked. At eleven. So many things to see, to learn, to want to be. And I found a haircut.

I craved every new issue—I think I still have the one with Whitney Houston (as a model) on the cover, eating a giant ice cream cone & wearing a sweater dress whose pattern was in the magazine (did I mention this was like 1982? And no, even though I begged, my grandma would not knit me the dress, as I was only 12, not 17).

By high school, it was Seventeen, Teen, YM (sometimes, not a huge fan), & the queen of teen mags, Sassy. How unbelievably crushed was I when it disappeared. How could I go on without Sassy’s witty commentary & solid advice? But go on I did.



To college, where I had now enlisted the likes of Details, Elle, Vogue, Bazaar, Interview, & Mirabella. The occasional splurge of British or Italian Vogue might cause me to skip a meal or two, but it was so worth it. I lived through those pages, shaping my world, what I would someday surround myself with, after this collegiate journey. Then, no Mirabella. Gone. The way of Sassy. It’s existence as ethereal as the images by Paolo Roversi. I was sad.

Then came Martha. Martha Kids. Martha Baby. And Real Simple. And Country Living. And Domino. Blueprint. Cookie. Wondertime. I had a lot of reading to do! But each one brought something different, something essential. There were piles in the car, while I waited at preschool. The reason my purse is as big as I am—to carry mags, of course. Oh, I must mention here that I also keep many of these. Forever. Not in a weird, stepping over piles in my house way, but in a necessary, these magazines contain a world of important images, articles, and inspiration that I might well need someday way.

And thank goodness I did. Because so many of them are now gone. And I can honestly say that for a time, like after I realized there would be no more Blueprint, no more Domino — ever — I wondered how I would ever find that collection of visual inspiration in my life. It felt like something was dying.

Enter blogs. Without realizing it, they had slowly begun to take magazines’ place in my world. First, Design Mom. Then Oh Happy Day. Then A Cup of Jo. Black Eiffel. Bloesem. Inchmark. Katie did. Simple Lovely. Twig & thistle. Heather Ross. Simply Photo. The list grows every day. All of these amazing visionary women. To you I must say: thank you. You have given back a part of me.

Under A Blanket of Stars — by Guest Mom Stacy

I have always been fascinated by stars. The ones in the sky. We used to visit the planetarium all the time when we were little. I even recall wanting to be an astronomer for a brief moment, until I realized that there was more math involved than I was willing to commit to. I just wanted to look at the stars. All the milky, glittery shapes they swirl in the night sky. Under a blanket of stars.

Flash forward—2002. Jasper had just been born, & one of the books I had purchased for his room was H.A. Rey’s The Stars. The colors on the cover, not to mention the content, were a must-have. Plus anything by H.A. Rey is pure genius. I had been toying with the idea of starting a baby blanket business with a friend from college. I had another dream about turning the zodiac constellations into a blanket (I dream a lot! Not sleep, just dream). But how?

We tried a bunch of things. There were a few “for-sures”—muslin, gingham, & ric-rac, especially the giant ric-rac we got in New York. As for the stars, we settled on felt circles. The results were less than stellar. Not bad, but not exact.

2007—after sharing countless felting books & ideas, Jen & I were well on our way creating seven smooches. I wanted to incorporate the constellation blankets. Still wasn’t sure how to do the stars. Then, I discovered needlefelting. Perfect! Not only are there a zillion brilliant shades of wool out there, it’s fun! Pounding that roving into the muslin & batting can be cathartic.



The constellation blankets have now had three incarnations in 7 years. Don’t stop believin’.

What Once Was — by Guest Mom Stacy

Seven Smooches was founded on pieces made from repurpose fabrics. This was not our sole purpose. It just sort of happened. We felted sweaters, cut them up, made tiny new sweaters & hats. Then we brought in vintage buttons — so much prettier & more interesting than the standard new ones. We were being green without really trying. How au currant! Unintentional, but a great side effect.

I didn’t really realize that I have often been drawn to repurposed things, not solely for their environmental friendliness, but for their beauty. Pure & simple.

My husband is from south Africa and we have had the privilege of traveling there a couple of times. So many amazing things to see — and take home! One of my favorite finds had a previous life. The plastic bag animals really came into being after plastic bags were banned in cape town. The bags were a litter nightmare, blowing all over & into the ocean. But with some wire & a crafty hand, they became these amazing little creatures we had to bring home! I still recall stopping on the side of a very slanty road, bartering with a man until we ended up acquiring nearly all of his animals for sale. They were the exact treats I wanted to bring back to my family and friends at home, not to mention keep in my house forever.

The chickens are available online here.

I Have A Dream — by Guest Mom Stacy

If you have never washed a wool sweater & shrunk it into nothing, I highly recommend you do. It wasn’t until my friend Jen did ( her brother’s xxl grey Shetland) & turned it into a tote bag that I was curious. Then I had the dream. The dream of the tiny wool kimono (greyish-ivory) with the stand-up collar & big buttons. It was one of those dreams that wakes you up & stays with you for days. This is what we need to do.

Not that we weren’t satisfyingly busy already. Jen has 5 children (10,7,7,6, & 3), & I have 2 (12 & 7) as well as a full time job as a visual merchandiser in a well-known retailer (rhymes with lap). We met one another as co-room parents in the preschool where 4 of the seven smooches were in class together. We had the extra-curricular portion of motherhood somewhat covered, but we had to do this. The felt. The kimono. The babies — all too delicious to ignore!

And before we knew it, we were sewing. And designing. A new hat. A cardigan. A poncho—or is it a skirt? We applied to a juried art show & held our breaths. Could we really do this? But as any mother knows, whether you have 1 or 2 or 5 or 10 children there is no time to ask that question. Could we really do this? Yes, you can do anything you believe you can.

Welcome Stacy!

I'm so delighted to introduce this week's Guest Mom. Her name is Stacy and and she's endlessly creative. You've seen her gorgeous work featured on this very blog here and here. I've had the opportunity to meet Stacy in person. Twice. And can tell you she's just as kind and lovely as you can imagine. I've really only had a few minutes with her, but she feels like an old friend. Plus, she spoiled my family with this generous gift. So I can't help but adore her. Here's a delightful introduction to Stacy written in her own words:

If you would have told me last year that I would be a guest mom on this very blog, I would have nervously laughed & said “o-k”, with a sarcastic lilt, secretly longing for you to be right. I was reading Design Mom religiously, not wanting to miss anything, when I saw that Gabrielle was going to Utah to speak at the Startup Princess retreat.

Knowing that it was next to crazy to think that Jen & I could up & leave for a long weekend across the country, I rushed to her house to tell her we haaaaaad to go! She wasn’t sure why, but she trusted my judgement, & off we went. The opportunity to meet Gabrielle was akin to meeting (insert rock star here). And she did not disappoint. Her kindness & talent shone like a star that still burns bright in my mind. Daily.

I grew up & live outside Chicago, with my lovely family (one husband, one girl, one boy, one dog). The incessant need to create started early (probably that tiny Barbie quilt we made in brownies—thanks, mom), & has never stopped. Even when there is no time. Which feels like always.

Jen is an amazing friend & my business partner. Together we began seven smooches, a line of children’s clothing & accessories made from repurposed & natural fabrics. We share a love of sewing, kiddies, coffee, chocolate, books, felt, & the creativity that invades every corner of life if you let it.

After studying classical music in college, I decided I really wanted to be a fashion stylist. Having my own children now, I cannot believe that we request they know what they want to do for the rest of their lives at say, age 17. Preposterous! Since no one in the Midwest knew what a stylist was, I moved to London. Searched for my purpose, met my husband, started working in retail (close, right?). 17 years on, I realize that you search for your purpose daily, but come closest to finding it in your family, your friends, & your art. Whatever that may be.

Thank you, Stacy! We're so glad you're here. Please make yourself at home.

Work Spaces that Work For Both Moms and Kids — by Guest Mom Lara Fishman

For my last post as Guest Mom, I'm going to tackle a big one: work-at-home-space. This year I moved my studio back to the house and the topic is on my mind. As any working mom knows, it’s sometime hard to balance home life with work life. But striking that delicate balance is all the more difficult when there is no defined line between home and work. The most important design tip I can offer moms who work at home is to find a way to incorporate your kids into your work space. They will be less apt to interrupt if you give them something to do, and a place to do it in. Kids like to feel included and there are creative ways to do that.

Once you've established your work area, it’s a good idea to add a toy desk for your kids. There are quite a few space-efficient and attractive options out there, like the Klick desk and chair set. If you don’t have enough space to offer them their own desk, then reserve a special spot at your desk. Another great multi-purpose solution is a daybed. If your work space permits, a day bed is a great way to accommodate overnight guests. Otherwise it makes an excellent spot for kids.



More ideas:
-I like to put aside a special box full of crayons and pens so that they can do their homework beside me as I work.

-In my office, I have a grass cloth tack board where I keep my ideas and reminders. One side of the board is reserved for my stuff, while the other is reserved for my daughters.

-Similarly, we have a marker board in the office. One side is for my drawings and measurements. The other side is for the girls. -When the kids do come into the office, I can keep them busy by giving them a “job” to do — little design tasks that (hopefully) keep them busy and buy me valuable time to catch up with work.

It's been a great week! Thanks for the comments, questions and feedback. Thank you to Gabrielle for having me. Last question goes to you: What are your best ideas for managing work-at-home-space?

My Daughters' Bedrooms — by Guest Mom Lara Fishman

I love to design kid’s spaces because there is a lot more room for whimsy and daring. When I was designing my daughters’ rooms, it was an exercise in balance. I wanted them to feel empowered to make design decisions (they are after all two very creative little souls), but I also wanted to make sure that their rooms flowed with the rest of the house.

We started with by defining color palette: one that the girls loved, and one that also fit with the rest of house. From there we chose complimentary but distinct wallpaper patterns as the base of the design.



The next major step was choosing the right bed. Both girls wanted “cananopies,” as they called them, so we had to figure out how to give them two similar but, again, distinct canopy beds. For the elder, we chose a vintage bed. For the younger, I custom designed a high canopy bed for the tight space; the large pot drawers below provide extra storage.

Next we considered durability. We chose furniture and finishes that are non-toxic, but also multi-functional. We also kept in mind the fact that kids use their spaces heavily — there was no reason to spend a fortune on something like bedding. We took a standard coverlet from Bed Bath and Beyond and added a bit of appliqué. Suddenly, we had what looked like custom bedding at a very budget-friendly price.

And since it’s important to me to instill a sense of heritage, I mixed in family heirlooms with the new features. We put a vintage French vanity that has been in my family for years in my younger daughter’s room as her desk. And my elder daughter has my grandmother’s rocking chair in her room.

The result is two similar but distinct rooms that are fun and youthful, yet quite timeless. We hope the girls will enjoy them for years to come.

Trash to Treasure DIY — by Guest Mom Lara Fishman

I don't know about you, but for me, Spring brings out the urge to turn the house upside down for a yearly purge. As I'm hauling things out to the curb I have to remind myself: don't be too quick to throw away the stuff you find in your garage — remember to keep your eye out for hidden treasure.

Some of my favorite trash-to-treasure projects so far (pictured above — click to enlarge the pic):

-I turned an old bank door handle that I bought years ago from an online auction into a new towel rack for our guest bathroom. A new coat of nickel plating and presto, it’s good as new.

-I found a group of old lamps from the seventies in storage and were able to revive them as Mediterranean-esque sconces for a client’s bathroom.

-I took vintage Moroccan lanterns and replated them with nickel. One made the perfect hanging fixture for a regal bathroom for a client. The other two were hung in my own kitchen.

-I also love to mix modern and vintage so when I found some amazing old claw foot bathtub pedestal feet, I refurbished them and used them in my master bath. They go really well with the clean lines of the modern cabinetry.

-It’s also relatively simple to take a tired old chandelier and give it new life with a few simple touches.

-And you can easily re-invent something by simply changing its function. I found a vintage Lucite umbrella stand ages ago but have recently started using it in our bathroom as a toilet paper holder.

Are you a trash-to-treasure kind of girl? Any success stories?

Reincarnated Kids Furniture — by Guest Mom Lara Fishman

I think being a mom, and understanding moms’ needs, actually makes me a much better designer. When choosing furniture for kids (my own or a client's), I try to keep a few things in mind. The pieces must be durable, safe, and preferably timeless. I’m a huge proponent of pieces of furniture that ‘grow’ with your children and can serve multiple purposes. This prevents parents from constantly replacing and throwing away pieces — clearly not the most sustainable or affordable option.

For example, I love the Oeuf crib that converts to a toddler bed or the Stokke convertible changing table that can become a desk, play table, or even a CD rack when your baby outgrows its first function.



Another example, the Tottoman, was created for one of my clients who needed additional storage. But we raised it on casters and added safety hinges so that toddlers could use the over-sized soft ottoman as an impromptu walker. It also makes a great hiding place. : ) As the child grows, the ottoman can be re-upholstered in different fabrics and live a long and useful life.

A third I idea I love to see implemented: converting old heirloom dressers into hip changing tables. Once your child outgrows them, you can re-convert the table back to a chest of drawers. A new set of hardware and a new coat of paint can update any tired old piece of furniture into a new and timeless piece. Brilliant.

Have you reincarnated any of your furniture? I'd love to hear your stories!

Be Kind to Mom Space — by Guest Mom Lara Fishman

Hi Ladies! Happy to be blogging here this week. My first post is all about mom space.

Ideally, all moms would have a “Be Kind to Mom” Space at home — a separate room where husbands and kids aren't allowed. Obviously, not everyone has such a sanctuary, but here are a few tips on how to carve out some Mom space in any home.

Start by locating a spot in the house where you can get a bit of privacy. For some this might be the bathroom. If that’s the case, invest in some scented candles and Lucite necklace stands. Set aside some space on the counter where you can display all the things that make you feel lovely. Make the time to take a hot bath. One of my favorite tricks: bring in some orchids and steam them in the shower with you. A few small touches and any bathroom can feel like a spa getaway.



If you're lucky enough to have a dressing room, take full advantage of it. I've filled mine with happy things — framed artwork that reminds me of my years in Paris as a student, and drawings by my kids. I love how the cowhide rug feels on my bare feet.

For some moms, your space might be a little reading corner in the living room that you can make cozy and welcoming. Invest in the perfect chair, then pair it with a little vintage table where you can set your tea. Add a great cozy throw and not-too-bright-lighting, and you’ll feel miles away from the craziness of everyday.

And if you really can't find a space to carve out, then create a mobile sanctuary. There are several companies that make great drawers set on casters. Fill the drawers with pretty things and make any small space in the house your own with a mobile mom sanctuary.

How about you? Do you have any special mom space in your home? What would you include in your mom sanctuary if you had one?

Hello Lara Fishman

A new Guest Mom this week! Her name is Lara Fishman and she's an interior designer in LA. I don't know her in real life, but I do know this: she's the genius behind Designers Call — a new company with the goal of bringing professional design services to those who previously haven't had the time or funds to hire a designer. Intrigued? So was I when I heard about it. That's why I thought she'd make a great Guest Mom. (Plus there's something called a DesignWagen, which sounds rad.)

Here's a bio of Lara I stole off of her site:

Raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Lara was influenced by her mother's passion for interior design, antiques, fine art, fashion and her talent for merging disparate styles, colors and patterns into beautiful cohesive living environments.

After studying French Literature at Tulane University and living in France, Lara cultivated a deep interest in European design traditions. In 1998, she completed a four-year course of study at UCLA's prestigious School of Interior and Environmental Design, working concurrently as a furniture designer to expand her knowledge of the custom-design process.

In 1998, Lara joined Kelly Wearstler Interior Design (KWID) as a senior designer and design team supervisor for residential and commercial projects such as The Viceroy and Maison 140, before founding her full-service interior design firm, Storm Interiors, in 2000.

In 2008, Lara launched Designers Call, a specialized decorating service that addresses the growing need of consumers seeking professional design services but lacking the large budget or time required by the traditional design process. Lara is an allied member of ASID.

So ladies. We have a professional interior designer with us this week. A woman with a mission to make design services available to all. I think we should take advantage of this opportunity by asking her lots of questions, no?

The Perfect Dress — by Guest Mom Starr Keller

I'm in love with this dress from Anthropologie. I want to wear it for the family photos I've been trying to schedule for months. If the family photos never happen, at least I'll have this pretty dress to wear.

Be an Original, Upcycled Vintage Bride — by Guest Mom Starr Keller

One part of Starr Strung that has come to mature quickly over the past year are my bridal jewelry and accessory lines. Specifically, the vintage section gets more attention than I ever thought possible. I know most of you reading are young mothers and aren't planning your wedding, but for any of the brides-to-be out there, here are some thoughts on using vintage jewelry in your wedding.

I have always adored vintage pieces, and can remember the first time my mom ever handed me a family keepsake to have as my own: a three-strand, freshwater pearl necklace with a tiny crystal rose clasp from my great-grandmother. I wouldn't change the necklace one single bit, but it did inspire me to go on a limb and incorporate upcycled vintage pieces into my work.

I've had brides ask me to incorporate an old family heirloom into their bridal jewelry, and have been prompted recently to seek out specific circa pieces for other brides-to-be. The end result is always, without fail, a perfectly unique ensemble of jewelry that a bride can cherish forever. Also, if you're someone who wants all of the tiniest details of your wedding to be unique and specific, incorporating these vintage components guarantees there won't be anyone else wearing the same jewelry.

Once you make a decision about your personal wedding day jewels, consider picking out vintage jewelry for your bridesmaids. Gifting bridesmaids with jewelry for your wedding day is a great, economical way to thank them — you are going to ask them to accessorize regardless, why not give them the perfect jewels? So much more fun than the same old monogrammed cup or key chain!

Interested in finding your own vintage accessories? I suggest seeking out pieces from the 1940s and '50s — it seems to me that the women of these eras took great pride in their appearance, and the jewelry and findings from these generations certainly reflect that. Once you've found something fabulous, think about how to repurpose it — rhinestone brooches can be upcycled into focal points of pearl-strand necklaces, while sparkly bits from clip on earrings can be made into stunning hair pieces.

Paring Down & Upcycling — by Guest Mom Starr Keller

I will never forget the look on my sister's face several years ago when she first walked through the front door of the home I had full intention to buy. Old, yes. Nearly dilapidated? Check plus. As my sweet honest father walked around and pointed out things of great concern: exposed electrical wires, etc., she just took a big breathe and said, "Well, Starr. I'm certain you will make it nice."

We laugh about that conversation now — both of us were going through divorces and finding our own way as 20-something mothers, and we were literally bulldozing our way through each day and minute as it came. I decided on a house to own, as she signed lease papers for an apartment in town. Often during those first months of realizing what I had actually gotten myself into would my thoughts drift to how easy she had it with no yard to look after (or poison ivy vines to rip off her siding, for that matter!) and when a maintenance issue arose, she simply dialed the front office of the complex.

Regardless, the elbow grease and long hours of scrubbing and such have paid off — my little humble abode is now quite comfy and although my growing family of five now fills every nook and cranny, we are decidedly happy with our surroundings.

One thing that I absolutely had to quickly come to grips with in our historic parlor home was that space was, obviously, a big issue. And my years of pack-ratting (I'll admit it, even though I do love organized chaos) things from high school and even love letters from my grade school days were over. With the main renovation underway in the form of a spacious bathroom, I relearned what it took to stay organized, on-track and dedicated to creating space for my family.

My saving grace, especially while contractor numero uno came and ripped my entire center of living space and left me with literally no walls and a standing toilet (talk about relearning the importance of privacy!), was to first: cleanse and purge high traffic areas. But the best part, and the point of my sharing this post: finding organizational tools to make this momma's life easier.

Here are a few of my favs and pointers on how I stayed sane during the rebuild of my bathroom and how a discovered "secret closet" became my laundry nook.

1) I pared down. Anything: lotions, sprays of all scents, laundry items that were not used were tossed. I made myself stay on one or two shelves so that the rest of the space could be used for a work area (folding laundry, etc.) And instead of turning to the trash, I asked my mom and sisters and friends if they were in need of some of the things I just didn't use - some of the scents and such were more their "smells" than my own.

2) Because I don't like to dry most of my clothes, I installed a hanging rack that actually folds into itself for easy storing. The Frost from Ikea holds 20 yards of clothes and fabric, which is quite spacious. Another favorite: The Jabba, a 16-clip drying system that comes in the most adorable shade of blue and green. For around $5, it is a steal.

3) The most important thing, as we geared towards moving into our new space(s), was to have accessible "storage" for our kids. Ages 6, 5 and 3, they are all quite independent when it comes to getting their own coats, hanging up bath towels and the like. I liked the idea of storage hooks, but if they were going to be in plain site, I wanted something different. Worldmarket has the best options: For $10-20, you can find pieces that are three-prong and have a great vintage feel.


4) I needed a place to put my personal jewelry collection - the things I make to sell are packaged away as they are created and posted on my site, but as for the pieces that I wear everyday? I had not a clue how to display. While cleaning up after our new freezer was delivered, I found a black rack, of sorts, in the bottom of the cardboard pile. I turned it over and over again in my hands and instantly knew what it was going to be upcycled to be: my jewelry organizer! It's functional and matches the other black accents in my new bathroom space, and it's nice for me to display my pretties when guests are in our home.

5) Finally, as the finishing touches were coming around, decorating was of course on my agenda. I have a soft spot for all things upcycled and wanted to be as eco-friendly and as easy on my pocketbook as possible. I walked through my house and piled everyday items that I looked at day in and day out on my big dining room table. From that gleaning, unexpected artwork came to my attention: My collection of antique bottles from the 1800s were split apart and placed on a barn-siding cabinet in the bathroom to serve both as decorative bits and also perfect tiny vases for spring blooms. A hand-stitched tea towel that I kept setting aside for fear of staining it in the kitchen became a unique wall-hanging. A woven basket placed under our open vanity sink is a perfect container for our kid's washclothes and hand towels.

Now, our renovations are at a standstill until the fall, when Indiana weather pushes us back indoors. Until then, I keep re-organizing and reminding myself on what my family really needs to have around and what we can give away. And even though our space of home is becoming more spacious, I keep my eye out for inexpensive "cures" to chaos ills!

Handmade Gardening — by Guest Mom Starr Keller

When I was diagnosed with adenomyosis last year, I started desperately doing research on the cause and effects of the disease. All signs pointed to what I was putting into my body, and unfortunately for a lady that loves sweets and the occasional fountain soda (caffeine!), all things that fell in the "refined" processing categories were out. No more food or drink with gluten, which meant a big change in my cabinets and grocery lists.

I grew up in a home full with natural parenting and organic eating long before it was en vogue, so calling upon my roots, I knew how to steer my ship and my family's dinner table into a more healthful way. This was the way our family garden was born: eggplant, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes of all hybrids, sweet peas, and recently, herbs. It has constantly amazed me, and our three little ones delight in how we can take rich soil in little peat pots, tiny seeds, a few days of warm sunshine and a bit of watering and walah! The end result is that we have bright veggies, fruits and herbs of all sorts to enjoy.



Because our kids are still young (ages 6, 5, and 3) labeling what seeds we have planted is of utmost importance. Our first year out, we had 35 tomato plants and one cabbage...so, I turned my efforts to etsy to find creative ways to identify our plantings. I like to support like-minded folks who are supporting themselves, so handmade stakes from Artisan Hands are perfect! And three stakes for $20 is a reasonable price for these little pretties that can be used again. The frequent watering help from little hands won't soil these pretties either.



For little bits of vintage loveliness in the garden, I like the offerings on from the etsy shop Monkeys Always Look. The idea of upcycling old pieces of silver into functional markers is so creative, and eco-friendly!

Happy gardening, made easier with handmade loveliness. It doesn't get any better than that!

Hello Starr!

Dear friends. Please say Hello to Starr Keller! She's this week's Guest Mom and I can't wait to get to know her. Here's a short bio in Starr's words to serve as an introduction:

I am Starr Keller, the face and creative mind and hands behind Starr Strung Jewelry Designs. My jewelry is a mix of fine sterling silver, natural gemstones, and vintage pieces from the past reworked into bridal jewelry, hair accessories and everyday wear. I live in the great Hoosier state of Indiana in a historic, 150 year old home with my family of five.

I recently took the leap from corporate America working as an editor for an antique trade publication to be an independent artisan — and I love it! My idea of a perfect day starts in an antique mall with a cup of organic coffee, and the plan to dig around for good bits of vintage pieces, going home to rework them into upcycled modern art, and then going to my garden for the basis of a good family dinner.

I am passionate about supporting the arts, and those "indie" industry who are independent as well. I am so excited to write here with Design Mom, and share fun things with like-minded readers!

Changing Diapers, Changing Minds — by Guest Mom Amy of Progressive Pioneer

We started out using cloth diapers with our baby Sam from the very beginning, so I have little to compare them to. However, it seems to me that cloth diapers have come a long way and are far more user friendly than the white squares and pins of the past. Most have velcro and stretchy legs, and many even have pockets so you can adjust the absorbency by adding extra layers. I often get questions from curious moms, who want to know, "But... how exactly does it work?"

Jillian's Drawers has a wonderful solution for those unsure of how to get started. You can try out all the most popular brands for $10 and just return the ones that don't work for you. They call it their "Changing Diapers, Changing Minds" program.

We use and love the Bum Genius one-size-fits-all diapers. They have ingenious snaps that let you adjust the size from newborn to toddler.

Other diapers I've heard good things about are Fuzzi Bunz and Bummis. Go ahead and try them out for yourself!

From Tree to Chair — by Guest Mom Amy of Progressive Pioneer

I go weak in the knees over the right piece of furniture. I love the warmth and honeyed color of real, solid wood. There is really nothing I'd rather sit down to a good meal in, than a great, hand-crafted chair. Growing up in Maine, where everything is steeped in history, we had our fair share of centuries old furniture. That's the wonderful thing about wood; it only gets better with age and a little love and care. Here are a few of my favorite heirloom-quality furniture makers:



Thomas Moser
I mention him first because he has been the inspiration for so many furniture makers and you can see his influence everywhere.



Kalon Studios
I recently discovered Kalon Studios and love their aesthetic; kind of eastern, kind of eco and kind of classic. Their baby furniture is beautiful.

And I would be remiss if I didn't mention Salt Lake's own Ivory Bill. We own and love the cabinet pictured at top. It currently holds stuffed animals and binkies in Sam's room and is the perfect height to sit right next to the nursing chair.

Beautiful furniture that you'll have forever is worth the wait. We're currently saving up for the perfect dining room table, one that will hold an abundance of loved ones, that will hold the stories, candlelight, traditions, Sunday dinners and Saturday morning breakfasts within it's grain and grow richer and more lovely as the years go by.

Meeting the Queen — By Guest Mom Amy of Progressive Pioneer

Yesterday Annette, from Hansen Hives, stopped by to check on our queen bee and make sure she'd gotten out of her box alright. We had 6,000 bees delivered last week! There is something so magical about having this fortress of sweet, humming productivity buzzing away in the corner of our yard.

Annette said the bees will fill up the bottom box within a month. Then they add one more, which when filled will be their winter food storage (clever bees!) and then anything on top of that is for us!



Once Annette found the queen bee, she put her in this little cup with plastic mesh on top and she painted a yellow dot on the queen's back so she'll be easy to locate.



The bees had already started building out honeycomb. When you peeked into the hive you could see them strung out like little trapeze artists, clinging to each other's legs, creating a living bee chain. It was the cutest thing.

If you live in the Salt Lake area, definitely check out Hansen Hives. You can host a hive while Aaron and Annette maintain it, until you feel comfortable enough to take over, at which point you can buy it from them; brilliant!

Artisan Bread at Home — by Guest Mom Amy of Progressive Pioneer

There's something meditative about breadmaking that I absolutely love; the slow process of yeast developing, the rhythmic kneading, the suspense of waiting to take it out of the oven, perfectly browned. Up until recently, however, eating my whole wheat bread was less a zen experience, and more an exercise in patience as one chewed their way through a doorstop disguised as bread.

All that changed when I met Peter Reinhart. Okay, so we haven't actually met, but I feel a certain kinship as I've read his book cover to cover and it's now stained and marked as any well-loved cookbook should be.

All his recipes are 100% whole grain. He works with the properties of the grain with amazing results. Don't be intimidated by the two day process; it's really just as easy, if not easier that the regular method; much less kneading involved. And he's got everything from a simple sandwich bread to whole wheat bagels and cinnamon rolls.

Also, it may just be a rumor, but I've heard that Artisan Breads in Five Minutes a Day is coming out with a whole grains version... I've got my fingers crossed!

Going Green — by Guest Mom Amy of Progressive Pioneer

There's a certain morning ritual that has me so hooked I almost can't start my day without it. Not coffee, but green smoothies. Because the appearance can be a bit alarming, you really have to try it before you pass judgment. The basic recipe at our house is this:

-Half a banana
-A handful of blueberries (add enough to make it tasty)
-Several handfuls of fresh spinach
-Enough water to make it drinkable
-And that's it!

I promise it tastes great; spinach blends really well with fruit. And it's SO good for you! Once you get that down, you can get fancier with strawberries, carrots, oranges, melon, peaches, fresh coconut and pineapple; there are a million yummy possibilities!



Tiffany of Naturemoms.com puts her green smoothies in popsicle molds as treats for the kids. We love these Tovolo rocket and star molds (ours were a wedding gift!). Mixing spinach with yummy fruit in a rocket pop just might have your kids begging for their greens!

City Chicks — by Amy of Progressive Pioneer

Maybe it's the economy or a greater awareness of where our food comes from, but backyard chickens seem to be everywhere. We jumped on the bandwagon and were pleased to discover that Nellie and Rockefeller, our Plymouth Barred Rock and Araucana, practically take care of themselves. They're the perfect pets. I've loved watching our sweet babe watch "his" chickens as they grew from little fluff balls to the brazen teenage chicks that now stroll the yard. At only a year he's learned to feed them, how to pat them gently and he's learned to love them. He has a special laugh he reserves just for their antics. Come August or September they'll be gifting us greenish-blue and speckled brown eggs every morning.


If building your own coop sounds intimidating check out these sleek options from Omlet, a British company that has recently started selling their adorable Eglu hen houses state side.

Welcome to Amy Thompson.

So. The weekend was gorgeous. And terrific. I will report with pics a bit later. But friends, I have hit a wall of exhaustion that is about to do me in. My goal for today: work in a nap. I've got to stay strong — it's Move Week! Woot!!

Luckily, I've got a Guest Mom to help me out with posts for the next few days. Hooray! Her name is Amy Thompson. And I don't know a thing about her except that I really wanted her to be a Guest Mom. And she said yes. Here's a short bio about Amy:

I spend my days with sweet baby Sam. We feed the chickens and watch them hunt for bugs. I'm often in the kitchen, up to my elbows in flour; he explores our tiny yard, a vast universe to his fresh eyes. I love making things, from chocolate truffles to reupholstered footstools. I like the challenge and the satisfaction that comes with creating. I made a brief foray into the corporate world, but find much more satisfaction, if less accolades (except from my sweet husband, my #1 fan) in my life as a stay-at-home mom. I write about these small adventures, about living lightly and naturally to the best of our ability, and about the joy, satisfaction and peace that comes from this simple, sweet life at Progressive Pioneer.

Welcome Amy! We're so glad you're here and can't wait to learn from you this week.

Considering Others — by Guest Mom Beth Longtine

One of the most expensive elements of a wedding is feeding everyone. To stay within your budget, consider simpler faire, or decrease your guest list, like we did. As I said before, good food was a priority for my son and daughter-in-law, so the option was cutting down the numbers. And. If you have great friends who want to help, ask if they are willing to help serve. We cut down on two servers by enlisting willing friends, and it made it so much more fun to have them there.

Be considerate of your guest’s limitations. Consider limiting the number of showers you invite people to, as it can often be a burden to purchase these extra gifts. Be sure to include inexpensive options on your gift registry, or express to your guests that gifts are not essential. I am sure at least a few guests will breath a sigh of relief.
Also be aware of the financial burden you may be placing on your attendants. Between buying or renting clothes, travel expenses and buying gifts, a wedding can be a huge expense for them. If you can limit the cost in any way, it will be greatly appreciated.

Something to Remember: What most people want to carry away from your wedding is the memory of a happy couple, not the price tag.

Note from Design Mom: Thank you, Beth for all the economical ideas this week! Also. The picture at the top features the hip wedding favors that Gwen and Joel created. Mini moleskin notebooks tied with bakers twine and a label from Stuck they printed themselves — half the labels had an image of Gwen's hair, the other half of Joel's hair. So great!

Wedding Clothes — by Guest Mom Beth Longtine

With fours daughters it’s a given that I have sweated the whole wedding dress issue. How in the world were we going to be able to buy each of them a dress they love? Well, I am sweating no more. Seems as though the fashion industry has realized that not all women want to spend a mint on a dress they will wear once. Many designers, department stores and even bridal shops are introducing lines of dresses that cost significantly less than what was typical just a few years ago; most in the $200-500 dollar range.

So who’s making my heart sing? J. Crew, Dillards, Nordstrom, David’s Bridal and even Target. Something to remember: The style of these wedding dresses are less fitted than more expensive ones, but may still require some alterations. My daughter-in-law's J. Crew gown came in an amazingly small box, so be prepared for lots of wrinkles (but it steamed beautifully!).

At our wedding, my son and daughter-in-law chose not to have attendants, a significant cost savings. However, if you do choose to have bridesmaids, I’ve noticed a trend that I think is fantastic. Brides are asking their attendants to pick out a dress in a certain color, but in a style of their choosing. This allows your friends to find a dress that suits their taste and price range, including the option of borrowing a dress if need be!

Reuse and recycle (or borrow if needed) — by Guest Mom Beth Longtine

These days we hear a lot about going green, and that emphasis is beginning to hit the wedding industry as well. Many are trying to encourage less waste and to recycle when possible. The best way to go green? Use what you already have, and try to buy what you know you will use again.

So what did we reuse? Previously owned white serving dishes were used on the dessert table, and a black, tiered stand was painted white to fit in. A long-owned wooden tray got a coat of red, and was used to hold favors. A banner was made out of an old book catalogue. Real dishes and linens were used for dinner. From friends we borrowed beakers for the flowers, place-card holders, the photo backdrop, and cameras for the photo booth. And I could go on…



Something to remember: Friends love to help, just be careful not to ask too much of them. One item or task per person is enough to make them feel a part of the day, without making them feel taken advantage of.

photos from Holly Hoyt Photography

Venues — by Guest Mom Beth Longtine

With my son’s wedding we started out with a bigger plan than we ended up with, but the economy reared it’s head, and we pulled back. Way back. We went from a 100+ wedding, to 45 nearest and dearest. Which meant we had to rethink the venue because the ballroom we had reserved was a bit much for that many people. But our cost went down too, from over $150 an hour (which is still pretty cheap), to a university campus lounge for $35 an hour — and the view was amazing.

So how do you find alternative venues? Get online. See what your city, local university, community or religious centers have to offer for events. Often they are not trying to make a profit, so they cost significantly less. I know a couple that wanted lots of friends, but couldn’t afford much, so they held their wedding reception at a local park shelter. Another friend got a great deal on a reception at a local hotel because they were undergoing renovations (that meant some minor inconvenience).



Something to remember: With cheaper venues, it usually means less service, so you are going to need family and friends to get into the action. Just be sure you are organized, so you don’t place too much burden on them. Our family helped frost the cupcakes, arrange flowers and set up the reception; and we talked and laughed the whole time.

images by Justin Hackworth

Simple Weddings — by Guest Mom Beth Longtine

We spend a lot of time in our house looking at wedding blogs, and we definitely have our favorites. Yes, maybe it has something to do with my being a wedding coordinator, but honestly I think it’s because I have four daughters. We all love to dream about weddings, and look at the lovely photos.

But if you are anything like us, we often come away feeling like the “perfect” wedding comes at a pretty high price (so how much does it cost to rent 20 chandeliers to hang from the trees?). As a wedding coordinator I have found high-end weddings to be the rarity, most people simply can’t afford more than the basics. And during tough economic times, how much do we really want to spend anyway? Can’t we have an inexpensive and lovely wedding? I think so.

The first step is establishing what is important to you on that day. What are the essentials? A small group of loved ones? A large group of family and friends? A great party? A religious emphasis? Going in with a plan can help you navigate the process more peacefully as you will be able to ignore whole categories of things the bridal magazines insist are essentials. My son and daughter-in-law recently got married and our focus was simple: build a marriage, tell a story, and spend as little money as possible. Oh yeah…and the food had to be great.

Stay tuned this week as I share a few thoughts on how to put together a simple, but beautiful wedding — and know that the same techniques and ideas could be applied to any event.

Note from Design Mom: in the mood for more wedding stuff? Check out Wide Open Spaces. She spent all of last week reporting the details of her incredibly lovely wedding. Also, I found the gorgeous balloon garland photo on Wide Open Spaces via Oh Joy via Tiara Mia.

Hello Beth!

I've had a string of amazing Guest Moms lately and the trend continues this week with Beth Longtine. Hello Beth! My life intersected with Beth when my kirtsy partner, Gwen Bell, married Beth's son, Joel Longtine. We had exchanged a few emails and I knew I liked Beth, but when we met at the wedding I was even more impressed — with her talented and beautiful family and with her ability to throw a fab party on a tight-budget. So I asked Beth to share a few ideas this week for those of you who love to throw parties — wedding parties or otherwise.

Here's a little bio about Ms. Longtine: Beth is the mother of seven children and a "Day of" wedding planner. Those two things might seem unrelated, but raising all those kids has it's benefits. Like training in: organizational skills, helping others find their vision, calm in the midst of storms, and developing a keen eye for all things frugal. Good skills for a wedding planner too. Her goal? "Helping couples plan their weddings so it is as peaceful and fun during the process as it should be on the big day. Because it's the building of a marriage that counts the most."

You can keep up with Beth at her blog, Where's The Veil?

The one thing I hope you remember — by Guest Mom Amy Smart

Motherhood is good work — the best kind — but it’s work nonetheless. And sometimes it feels totally overwhelming.

Having a creative outlet is the aspect of my life that has kept me sane. Sounds cliché, but it’s true. It’s therapeutic for me to have some short-term creative projects in the midst of the long-term creative process of raising children.

I have a feeling this may be the first time Dolly Parton has ever been quoted on Design Mom, but it’s always good to break new ground, right? I recently found these lyrics and they spoke to me.

It takes all I’ve got to give what life demands.
You’ll go insane if you give in to it,
Life’s a mill and I’ve been through it,
I’m just grateful I’m creative with my hands.

So here’s the one thing I hope you remember from Amy Smart: Find something you love to do and do it.

Not because you want to get a bunch of new comments on your blog, or because you want to become the next Martha, or because you want to win a blue ribbon at the state fair. But because it feeds some part of you that needs feeding.

Just don’t try to do it all. You’ve really got to narrow your focus. For right now, I’ve narrowed it down to one thing.


And I set up shop in the middle of the family room with the kids buzzing around me. I try to avoid using the computer when they are around because I don’t like the thought of them just looking at the back of my head. But I do sew with them around. (This doesn’t mean there aren’t frequent interruptions and occasional balls thrown at my head or Hot Wheels cars driving across my back). I like them seeing me do something artistic, and I’ve seen the way it affects my kids’ creativity.


In the meantime, I totally enjoy admiring the work of other women. Especially when they do something I don’t do. Don’t feel guilty or compare what you do to what other people do. Enjoy the beauty they create as well.

So, pick your thing. And love it. Whether it’s baking a loaf of bread, or playing the piano, or doing Pilates, or knitting socks, or digging in the dirt. Nourish your soul. Then you can better nourish the little souls that live with you.

Thanks again to Gabby for letting me come hang out this week and to all of you for your encouraging comments. I’d love to hang out with you more in the future, so drop in for a visit!

How to make a messenger bag in 32 minutes — by Guest Mom Amy Smart

Today I want to share another simple, beginning sewing project you can make with your kids or for yourself. This is what we are giving our friends for birthday presents this year. It’s even cool enough for boys because it’s a messenger bag (not to be confused with a man purse!).

Come visit me here to learn how. I promise that you can do this in about 30 minutes. Maybe a little more if you’re still getting your sewing groove on, but you’ll feel like a pro when you’ve done it. We made this cowboy version Sunday afternoon. Even though I did all the sewing in this case, my 5-year-old felt immediately connected and proud of the bag after watching me make it for him. (Which he literally did every minute I was working.)

5 Easy ways to teach a girl (or boy) to sew — By Guest Mom Amy Smart

image credit, Amy Hackworth

I think sewing is another great method for kids to express themselves creatively. I love this thought of teaching our children to sew as a means of being a “stabilizer” in their lives expressed beautifully by former first lady, Grace Coolidge:

“Every girl should be taught to sew, not merely for the sake of making something, but as an accomplishment which may prove a stabilizer in time of perplexity or distress. Many a time when I needed to hold myself firmly I have taken up a needle (a sewing needle, some knitting needles, or a crochet hook.) Whatever its form or purpose, it often proved to be as the needle of the compass, keeping me to the course.”

So here are some ways to get them (or you!) started:

One fun way, especially with really young kids, is beginning-level lacing cards. The ever-popular eeBoo has some adorable choices.


If your kids are a little older and you want to make your own sewing cards, check out Marie’s patterns at Make and Takes.


In The Creative Family, Amanda Soule suggests simply giving your children some fabric in a sewing hoop, a needle and thread, and letting them go.

We’ve also had success with my daughter drawing a picture and taping it to the window. Then she lightly traces it onto plain fabric, and stitches over the traced lines. A very simple way to let them capture their art in another form.



For another very simple project to do with your kids, Oliver + S offers this free download for an easy child’s skirt. I am no expert at sewing clothes (still a little scared of zippers and sleeves) but this one is totally do-able. And cute.


Really, you can do this. And it doesn’t need to be perfect. Keep it simple, but at the same time, let them run with it. Don’t be afraid to let them (or yourself) make mistakes. Your kids will love anything they have a hand in, and it will give them a ton of satisfaction to see a finished product that they accomplished with their own hands. Hopefully it will do the same for you too!

Why quilts are cooler than you think — By Guest Mom Amy Smart

I blame the 80’s for any negative stereotype of quilting. (What don’t we blame the 80’s for, with the exception of U2?) Too much powder blue and dusty pink. My goal with this post is to disprove that stereotype and broaden views on the utter coolness of quilts.

I love old quilts. I think they are fantastic. Vintage quilts are a fascinating art form that in many ways preceded the Modern Art movement of the 20th century by almost 100 years.



This one was made by Julia Ann Cantwell in 1881 in frontier Utah. I love that it was almost a purely female expression born of necessity and a medium women found to express their creativity using small pieces of the remnants of their everyday lives. I also love that this art form thrived most in adversity, whether during the Civil War, the pioneering westward movement, the Great Depression, or even more contemporary, in Gee’s Bend, Alabama.

Gee’s Bend is an isolated, rural community on a bend in the Alabama River. Most of the residents are the descendents of slaves that worked on the cotton plantations. The quilts of Gee’s Bend, created starting in the 1940’s up to now, mimic the modern art movement in cosmopolitan areas, and yet they were created in rural, impoverished isolation. Women created them out of necessity as a functional means of keeping their families warm. The quilts became an art form born of their poverty, using the little bit of excess they had. Since their collective discovery, they have been displayed at world-class galleries.

Here are a couple of my favorites:

Made by Martha Jane Pettway around 1945


And I love the description with this one:

“In the early 1990s, a former Bend resident living in Bridgeport, Connecticut, sent some garments — double-knit leisure suits — to Gee's Bend. Mary Lee Bendolph remembers: ‘My sister-in-law's daughter sent those clothes down here and told me to give them away, but didn't nobody want them. That knit stuff, clothes from way back yonder, don't nobody wear no more, and the pants was all bell-bottom. We ain't that out-of-style down here. I was going to take them to the Salvation Army but didn't have no way to get there, so I just made quilts out of them."

You can see more examples here and read about Gee’s Bend here.

Coming this week: some ways you can get your own sewing groove on.

Hello There Amy Smart!

Note from Design Mom: I'm delighted to introduce Amy Smart. Amy and I took French classes together back in the day. C'est vrai! When I ran into her at a kirtsy meetup in SLC, and found out she was a blogger too, I just had to invite her to be Guest Mom. You will love her! Here's an intro from Amy in her own words:

What a thrill to be hanging out at Design Mom this week! I love the way that Gabby captures the beauty to be found in mothering. I have four of my own kiddos and I know that motherhood isn’t always kisses and sunshine, but I also know the importance of inviting beauty into our lives.

This week I won’t even pretend to give you impeccable design tips, recipes, or advice on raising children to be Ivy League graduates. Instead, I’ll stick to the place where I do seem to get my mojo going — behind my sewing machine, and more specifically quilting.

For many years, I was a closet quilter. I started piecing quilts not long after I had my first baby and I enjoyed having a finished product to show for my time, besides the pile of used diapers at the end of the day. But I never really told anyone in polite society that I was a quilter — unless they were one too – because it seemed like such a ‘grandma’ thing to do.

Enter the blogosphere and the world of creative, amazing, inspirational women who also love to sew. And not all of them are even grandmas yet! So, after having a family blog mainly for the grandparents in Maryland, I decided to throw my own thoughts and projects into blogland and I started a sewing blog last fall. It’s not the swankiest blog, but it has been a great medium for sharing and meeting wonderful people who seem to like cutting up fabric into little pieces and sewing them back together as much as I do.

This week I hope I can introduce you — whether you’re a sewer or not — to some great products and ideas you can use yourself or with your kids.

Dinner For Two — by Guest Mom Jora

One of the most important things to do when you have a family, and one of the easiest to forget, is to really make time to spend alone with your significant other. I think one of the best ways to do this is, you guessed it, to have a lovely meal together.

Now, restaurant dining is nice.There’s no mess to clean up and the duties of home life are out of sight and out of mind. But it can get expensive, there is the issue of finding a sitter, and frankly, to me, nothing says romance more than a home-cooked meal. Don’t worry just yet. I’m not talking about driving yourself crazy making some fancy meal that takes hours to prepare. Working on a complicated recipe while your kids are tugging at your legs is no way to get in the mood for romance. I am talking about something simple and elegant and perhaps a little indulgent. Something that doesn’t make it into your normal meal planning routine. Be sure to turn on some music, light candles, pull out some cloth napkins, whatever makes you feel special.

Here are some special meals for two that come to mind:

A couple of grilled steaks, baked potatoes and a wedge salad. I would go to the special butcher and buy really great steaks, because this is a very worthy occasion after all.

Spaghetti with Clams (or Mussels). Nothing says celebrate to me more than some sort of really good shellfish. All you have to do for this is steam some clams in a few yummy ingredients that you probably already have on hand, and toss with hot spaghetti. Again, feels festive, but is a 20 minute meal.

French Onion Soup. If you have never had homemade, I highly recommend you try it. It is really quite simple, it just takes the better part of an hour to simmer away. You know, just enough time to bathe the kids, put them in their pajamas, read stories, tuck in, etc. Serve with a green salad and a homemade dressing and you’re set. Perfect for keeping cozy on a cold night.

Another very simple yet decadent option is to get some fancy cheeses, salami, olives, and bread and have your very own indoor picnic for two. There is something that feels so European about eating this way to me…and I guess that’s why I consider it romantic.

What about you? Do you have special dinners that you prepare for your significant other?

Because We All Need More Dinner Ideas — by Guest Mom Jora

A few months back, there was an article in Cookie Magazine about a mom who was frustrated with cooking the same few meals for her family to accommodate her rather picky children. She missed eating a variety of interesting foods (as did her husband) and she was worried her kids were getting stuck in a rut. What, you say this all sounds familiar do you?

Well, this brave mother set out to try 30 new dinners in 30 days…all meals within reason of course. This inspired me to come up with my own list of dinners to try that would, in theory, be pleasing to all members of my family and would push their culinary boundaries a bit, if you will. Every family’s list would look different, obviously. But I thought I might share some of the sources I frequent when I am in a dinner rut and want to try something new, yet still involve approachable foods and techniques.

One such list came from the Cookie article itself. It is a great list of 30 very family-friendly yet sophisticated meals, most of which can be prepared on a weeknight. Check it out here.

I would have to say one of my favorite sources for dinner ideas will always be the magazine Everyday Food. True, it is a Martha publication, but the food is not intimidating, I promise. Plus you get all that Martha eye candy (photos for each recipe don’t hurt one bit!). You can get year’s subscription for like $12. I can’t think of money better spent, frankly. Get a subscription here.

I’m also a huge fan of online sources. Epicurious, MyRecipes, and Dinner Tonight (by the editors of Everyday Food) are my personal favorites. You can just type in ingredients and it will come up with recipes to try.

Of course food blogs are some of the most fun to read. There are so many good ones out there, but Smitten Kitchen and Simply Recipes have huge archives that are easy to search, and both of those girls are always cooking up something tasty. Also, if you’ve never come across it before, there is a Food Blog Search Site that many of the food blogs are linked up to, so that is a great place to start if you don’t have any food blog favorites yet.

Do you have any tips for coming up with ideas for dinner for the family?

Photo courtesy Cookie Magazine

The Truth About Kids and Vegetables — by Guest Mom Jora

It seems that every mother I know is trying to find ways to get her kids to eat more vegetables, whether she has a “picky eater” or not. I certainly make no claims about conquering the vegetable battle in our home, but there is something that my husband and I have noticed really helps. We grow many of our own vegetables and get our kids involved to the extent they can. They are too young to truly help, but they love being out in the garden area when we (really, just my husband) are working and picking vegetables. Our three year old watches as the plants grow, asks what everything is, and (can you believe it?) samples vegetables straight from the garden that he wouldn’t dream of touching if I presented him his dinner plate and said, “Here, try some wild arugula and lacinato kale.”


You don’t need a huge yard to grow your own vegetables. I have a friend who grows lettuces in pots on her back patio with her kids. During the summer, you can definitely grow tomatoes in a pot in a sunny corner of your yard or patio. And if you are lucky enough to have a backyard, putting in an 8 foot by 4 foot garden box will produce a surprising amount of vegetables and herbs.

The other thing I want to mention is that you don’t have to be intimidated if you don’t feel you have experience growing things. My husband and I were urbanites through and through until a little over a year ago. Neither of us had green thumbs at all. (To the contrary.) My husband is pretty much responsible for the garden work at our house, and he’s learned most everything he knows just from this past year. (He even learned how to take care of chickens! The kids love to play with the chickens and our son actually does help with them by collecting the eggs each morning.)


Do you have any tips on getting your kids to eat vegetables or new foods?

The Dish That Keeps On Giving — by Guest Mom Jora

If you don’t already have one, I highly recommend you find a recipe that your family loves and that also happens to give you lots of leftovers. This is ironic coming from The Girl Who Hates to Eat Leftovers. But I have to admit there are some dishes that are as good, if not better, the second or third day as they were the first. Soup, in my mind, is one such dish.

The beauty of finding the “dish that keeps on giving” as I like to call it, is that it is usually a one dish meal (think casserole, soup, stew, etc.) and can be served from at lunch, on a planned “leftovers night,” or on one of those nights that you intend to cook something fresh and fabulous, but alas, the day has gotten away from you. Generally speaking, these dishes are just as much work if you make four servings or twelve. Make it on Sunday afternoon, eat it for dinner that night, and then partake as needed during the week. (Again, if you’re very oriented toward planning, which I am not, freeze some portions and then pull it out in a month when everyone has forgotten about it!)

Some of my family’s favorite soups (which provide lots of leftovers) include the following:

Homemade Chicken Noodle
Turkey Chipotle Chile
Lentil Soup
Cream of Asparagus
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Broccoli, Red Pepper and Cheddar Chowder

And last but not least, Orangette’s “Fretwell (Italian Vegetable) Soup,” which I made recently with Baby J (literally) underfoot. I am always surprised that my kids (specifically my son) will eat this soup which has about 7 or 8 types of vegetables in plain view. Oh, and it happens to be the most delicious version of minestrone I have ever tasted. Be sure to serve it over the slices of day-old bread and with plenty of good olive oil drizzled over the top.

See how happy Baby J is to sit down at eat this soup?

And here’s C-Man giving the soup a (too-rare) thumbs up!

What are your favorite “dishes that keep on giving”?

The Virtues of (Meal) Planning Ahead — by Guest Mom Jora

If you have a family to feed, I cannot extol the virtues of planning meals ahead enough. I know this is easy for some of you….you are planners by nature. This sort of thing maybe even excites you a little. You can make dinners on a weekend, freeze portions ahead of time and pull little packages out during the week: Turkey Chili, anyone? Cheese Enchiladas? Beef Stew? I personally don’t have the foresight or the freezer space to take meal-planning that far.

But getting a list of dinner ideas together on Sunday night is a very, very good thing indeed (to quote Martha). I find it is the only way to feed your family a variety of interesting meals while not driving yourself crazy with the 5 o’clock panic. You don’t have to plan anything fancy and don’t feel pressure to come up with new things all the time (unless that is what makes you happy). Plenty of moms I know do the “Taco Tuesday” and “Friday Pizza Night” thing. The point is, think ahead, shop ahead, and meals will be more enjoyable to prepare and to eat. On my blog, I try to post "Meal Planning Monday" each week. I find this keeps me on track.

I’ll admit I was reluctant to switch over to this sort of cooking. Before kids, I prided myself on living (what I thought was, anyway) a very European lifestyle: shopping almost each day for fresh foods and cooking spontaneously. And that, my friends, is a fine way to live, should you have all sorts of time on your hands and no dependents to take care of. I am guessing that is not your situation if you are reading Design Mom, however.

I’m not going to give you a list of menu items and recipes (even though I am tempted!), because each family is different in their tastes. You know what you like and what your family will eat. But I will share one idea with you. We could eat salads almost every night in our house, and I know that’s true for many of my friends and their families. The trick is to, again, plan ahead so that you have the makings of a fresh and interesting salad at your fingertips. So, I recommend buying the lettuces you like and washing and drying them for the week. Just wrap the clean leaves in paper towels and store in plastic bags. Then (and this is the important part), make a good homemade dressing or two (it really makes a big difference!), and maybe even some croutons.

Herbed Buttermilk Dressing
from The Gourmet Cookbook

1 cup well-shaken buttermilk
½ c. mayonnaise
2 T. olive oil
1 T. fresh lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
2 T. chopped fresh chives
1 T. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. It will keep, covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. But it will be gone before then. Trust me.


Parmesan Balsamic Vinaigrette
from The Gourmet Cookbook

This is my son’s favorite dressing. He calls it “the brown dressing.” Not very appetizing-sounding, I realize…. He will dip just about anything in it, which is handy for getting him to eat his veggies.

1 garlic clove
½ t. salt
2 T. balsamic vinegar
1 t. fresh lemon juice
3 T. minced fresh basil (optional)
¼ c. finely grated parmesan cheese
¼ t. freshly-ground black pepper
½ c. olive oil

Using a large heavy knife, mince and mash garlic to a paste with salt. Whisk garlic paste with vinegar, lemon juice, basil, cheese and pepper in a bowl. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until well blended. Add more salt and pepper to taste. This will keep for a week or more covered in the refrigerator.


Croutons
Homemade croutons are super easy and much tastier and cheaper that buying them at the store.

Cube or tear day-old bread into small pieces. You can use a nice crusty European-style loaf, but honestly, if you use the Honey Wheat Sandwich Bread from Trader Joe’s (or something similar), that will taste great too.

Place the bread cubes on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. (You can get fancy with herbs or parmesan cheese or such, but it really isn’t necessary.) Bake in a 400 degree pre-heated oven for about 10 or 15 minutes (or until slightly crisp and golden). Give the croutons a stir or two while they are baking.

Let cool completely before tossing with your salad. Store the cooled leftovers in a zip-top bag.

Food Is Life — by Guest Mom Jora

When I first found out I would be a Guest Mom here, I was thrilled! Design Mom was one of the first blogs I regularly followed. At the time, I had a brand new baby girl and a toddler boy and was feeling a wee bit overwhelmed. When I found Gabby’s blog, I admit, I developed a bit of a mom crush. Five kids? Interesting career? Loving relationship with Ben Blair? And she seems like a totally cool chick to just hang out with? I figured I could get through my situation.

So, like I said, I am thrilled to be guest blogging here this week. But. And you knew there was a “but” didn’t you? Panic set in a few days ago. What on earth would I have to add to this site? There are crafts, products, clothes, tons of inspiration and ideas wherever you look. (Just hit the archives if you haven’t already.) And so I told myself to take a few deep breaths, and the following came to mind: just write about what you know. And what I do know is food.

I’m one of those food and cooking obsessed people that you might know or have maybe heard about. One of my first memories is being 3 or 4 years old, sitting in front of my mom’s pantry, studying and organizing and re-organizing the ingredients (OK, I am a bit of a geek too). I was reading cookbooks at the age of 5, and by 10 I talked my mom into letting me make dinner for the family. Pre-kids, I would entertain one or two times a week, sometimes more. But none of this is to say I am a fancy cook or an expert in any way, or that I have any special training. I just enjoy it, have learned from lots of mistakes through the years, and have a couple of tricks and ideas up my sleeve. So this week, I hope to give you some ideas for both feeding your family and (hopefully, hopefully) enhancing your life just a bit. Because everybody, most especially the self-neglected mom, needs that.

I leave you with one of my favorite quotes by the food-is-life and life-is-food writer M.F.K. Fisher (that’s my description of her, I hope she wouldn’t mind):

“It seems to me that our three basic needs, for food and security and love, are so mixed and mingled and entwined that we cannot straightly think of one without the others. So it happens that when I write of hunger, I am really writing about love and the hunger for it, and warmth and the love of it and the hunger for it...and then the warmth and richness and fine reality of hunger satisfied...and it is all one.”

Find more of Jora at Domestic Reflections.

photo credit: Ben Blair took this photo of me making a pie crust on New Year's Eve. I think I may have already shared it here on Design Mom, but it's such a nice shot, it's worth a second look.

Welcome Jora.

We've got another lovely Guest Mom with us this week. Yay! Her name is Jora and she sent me an email last fall and I sent her an email back and she sent me an email back and we went back and forth a few more times until I get to introduce her to you today. And she's terrific. You can read more from her at her beautiful blog, Domestic Reflections, where she writes about design, health, fashion, family life and travel. I'm so delighted that we all have this opportunity to get to know her better.

Here's a bit from Jora in her own words:

I’m Jora. I’m a thirty-something stay-at-home mom living in San Diego with my husband B (who happens to be the funniest and most organized person I have ever met), my very independent 3 and a half year old son C-Man, and the snuggliest little 16 month old girl, Baby J. I love being a mom more than anything in the world, as cliché as that sounds, and I take it very seriously. But I find it to be very, very, very (did I mention “very”?) difficult as well. In my other life, I was a lawyer, and now that I look back on it, that was pretty easy (not to mention unimportant!) compared to what I do now. I have a feeling you moms out there just might be able to relate.

Make Someone's Day — by Guest Mom Stephanie Brubaker

Recently we've been recipients of a few random acts of kindness, and we are enjoying them so much that it seems only right to pass along the good vibes. I thought it would be fun to share some ideas about simple yet meaningful ways to make someone's day, whether it be anonymous or not. A little thoughtfulness goes a long way...especially during a time when many are feeling down about life. Here are a few ideas to spark your imagination:

1. Make a batch of cookies and package a few of them up for others to enjoy. Save a few for your own kids too...you'll want them to have warm memories of Mom making cookies :)

2. Prepare a nice lunch (something you'd be thrilled to eat yourself) and then give it to a homeless person. Perhaps include a napkin with an uplifting note written across the top. Based on experience, having a surprise lunch delivered is about the best thing ever.



3. Gather up all the fixin's for a "tea-party-in-a-box" and pass it along to a friend who needs some extra TLC. Include a mug, a few tea bags, a homemade or store-bought scone, lemon curd, and whipped cream (if you can find Devonshire cream, use that instead).

4. Buy a large bouquet of flowers at Costco and then divvy them up to a few friends. Wrap a few stems in kraft brown paper and add ribbon. I've yet to meet anyone who doesn't love flowers as a gift.

* If it's a food-related item, you may want to let the recipient know it's from you...some people may not eat food that's given to them anonymously. Just a thought...



A simple, yet well-packaged treat is both fun to present and to receive. If you are taking the time to participate in a random act of kindness, why not package it up nicely? :) Here are some of my favorites:

Pie Shaped Packages...What a fantastic way to present a piece of homemade apple pie. Yum. I'll admit it's more time consuming than the other ideas but a project that must be done at least once. The cuteness factor is way too high to pass up! You can view the template here.

White Chinese Takeout Boxes...They cost less than a quarter each making them very cost effective and adorable. You'll find yourself using this idea over and over because you can change the look of the boxes so easily with different colors, ribbons & tags.

Gable Boxes...I absolutely love these boxes and find myself creating excuses to use them. Add an adhesive label and you're good to go. My favorite labels are those from Stuck, Paper Source, and Thomas Paul.

And speaking of sharing the love...thank you so much for all your lovely comments this week. You've all made my week and I'm feeling lots of warm fuzzies right now, thanks to you! Keep in touch...

Find more of Stephanie at Stephmodo

Affordable Art — by Guest Mom Stephanie Brubaker

I spent my college career mainly studying Art History; and while that was long ago, I still appreciate the visual power of a work of art. Over the past several years I've slowly discovered a few artists that not only speak to me in a creative way, but appear to be quite affordable as well. This aspect makes the art even easier to love! And with the idea of "affordable art" being more popular now than it's been in a long time, I couldn't help but present you with a few options for your viewing pleasure. Some you may be familiar with, and some may be new to you. Either way I hope you enjoy how lovely they are...



1. Chad Wys...a thrilling discovery last year on Etsy; his modern landscapes are what I like to look at every day. He is also really, really nice :)

2. Labokoff...Fabienne mixes photography and painting in a such a beautiful, dreamy way. After visiting France I wanted something to remind me of that unique part of the world, but didn't want it to be a touristy tchotchke. I imagined something I could display in my home, something that wouldn't look out-of-place. These prints fit the bill! And even if you haven't visited France, they are still beautiful prints to have on display.

3. Kelly Neidig...a Blurb bookstore discovery (you must check it out!); there is something about the boldness of those lines and that color combined that plays on my mind in just the right way.

4. Blancucha...I can't get enough of these whimsical child-like-yet-still-grownup prints from Spanish designer Blanca Gomez. They are perfect for a playroom but I've seen them in a living room space as well and both look equally as fabulous.




p.s. You can easily obtain a custom-framing look without the hefty price tag, by using the Wood Gallery Frames from Pottery Barn and then having a custom mat created by a professional framer. These frames of good quality and are often on sale! While you are at the framer, ask him/her to attach wire to the back of your store-bought frame. This will make hanging it 10 times easier and only costs about $2.

Find more of Stephanie at Stephmodo

Favorite Desserts — by Guest Mom Stephanie Brubaker

A few readers recently requested a "top 10" list featuring my favorite desserts. It sounded like a yummy post to write so here it goes...for all to enjoy! Please note that most of these desserts can be made in one hour or less, some under 30 minutes, which I consider absolutely necessary :)

These recipes are my favorite "crowd-pleasers", in no particular order, with a few notes included. Bon appetit!

1. Lemon Cake...serve with Lemon Curd, whipped cream & fresh berries; the very similar but more low-fat Lemon Yogurt Cake is lovely too; make sure you sieve the lemon curd before chilling.

2. Banana Pillows...double the amount of sauce; also, you can stretch the puff pastry to 6 pillows instead of 4.

3. Frozen Key Lime Pie...for recipe notes on this one click here. There are more than a few :)

4. Tapioca Passion-Fruit Parfaits...great with an Asian-inspired meal.

5. Bittersweet Molten Chocolate Cakes...use a high-quality chocolate for this one and serve with Haagen Dazs Vanilla Swiss Almond.

6. Glazed Chocolate Cake...garnish with whipped cream, toasted hazelnuts or fresh raspberries; use a high-quality chocolate with this one too.



7. Chocolate Pots de Cremes/Custards...before serving, cover the tops of the custards with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

8. Lemon Curd Marbled Cheesecake...a great way to use that delicious lemon curd that keeps for up to a week in your fridge! A few thoughts on other ways to use lemon curd here.

9. Croissant Bread Pudding...use half good quality croissants and half pain au chocolats; raisins can be omitted; serve with a warmed caramel, Bourbon or Rum sauce.

10. Peanut Butter Sandwiches...best a few hours after assembling; double the cookie recipe to put to use the extra filling you'll inevitably have on hand.

Find more of Stephanie at Stephmodo

Wooden Mobiles — by Guest Mom Stephanie Brubaker

About six months ago my little family walked towards Paris' Luxembourg Gardens in search of some old-fashioned fun. En route we passed a toy store called Pentagram with a window full of gorgeously crafted wooden toys. The display was breathtaking and I ached to take a look. Thoughts of Christmas gifts danced in my head and I convinced my husband to move along without me (and take the kids!) while I perused the beautiful books and the German and French toys for a few minutes. It was heaven to be in a store full of toadstools, stacking blocks, and mobiles...and no plastic :) It took a great deal of self-control to only buy two little toys per child, especially since everything was very reasonably-priced.

Perhaps my favorite purchase was this wooden mobile I gifted my son. It depicts a mischievous little boy from Sweden named Nils, who spends his days riding on the back of a goose and discovering the world around him. I thought it perfect for my own little mischievous boy! As we discover more about Nils from the book I included with the mobile, I'd like to think my little guy will go to sleep dreaming of his own adventures. Upon further research I found other beautiful mobiles made by the same German company...Kinderkram, and was thrilled to find it possible to procure them in the US too. I think mobiles are a clever way to add visual interest to a child's room and also create a more finished look.




Here are a few other wooden mobiles I thought you might love:
Airplane Mobile
Goose Girl Mobile
Falling Stars Mobile
Flower Fairies Mobile

Find more of Stephanie at Stephmodo

Budget Bedroom Makeover — by Guest Mom Stephanie Brubaker

Over the course of the past year, I've attempted to completely revamp our bedroom, which over the years had become a dumping ground of sorts (am I the only person that falls into this trap?!) Somehow everything we didn't like ended up in this room. Finally, after almost 9 years, I decided I was over it all and ready for a grownup space. There was a catch though...I had to bring out my inner "recessionista" and style the entire space on a lean budget. I gave myself a budget of $1000 for the entire room — accessories, furniture, linens, everything plus whatever I made from selling the old furnishings.

As I found a few key pieces for great prices, the room started taking shape. I let it flow organically from there, based on what I liked, what I found, and what fell into my price range. I shopped my usual favorites — Craigslist, KSL (my local online classifieds), Target, IKEA, TJMaxx, Anthropologie, and a few other local spots. Also added were a couple of free items from a home decor swap and art from elsewhere in my house. I can't express enough how nice it is to have a little sanctuary to escape to at the end of the day. I believe every mother deserves that kind of respite.

While I forgot to take "before" shots (darn!), I do have a few "afters" to share.




Find more of Stephanie at Stephmodo

Welcome Stephanie!

Hey friends. I have someone wonderful to introduce you to today. Her name is Stephanie Brubaker. Many of you may already know her as Stephmodo from her wonderfully stylish blog of the same name. I'm so happy she's here with us this week because I'm a total fan. Welcome, Stephanie!

Here's a bit about Stephanie in her own words so you can get to know her:

Before embarking on the career of motherhood, I worked in the retail sector, first in store management and then ended up with a corporate retail job at Williams-Sonoma. This was the highlight of my short professional life. Everyday, upon arrival, I soaked in the San Francisco Bay view, the delicious smells from the test kitchen, and the pretty objects dotting offices everywhere (will they make it into the catalog or will they not? and if not, may I take it home? :) ). I felt inspired to nurture my love for food and for creating delicious things for my family and friends to enjoy. Much of my creativity is expressed in this way.

These days my professional life consists of carpools, lessons, trips to the park, yummy meals, and attempting to maintain a home we all can enjoy. I love the idea of organizing and de-cluttering (it's the implimentation I struggle with!) and also find a lot of fulfillment in decorating our living space slowly...and on a budget :)

I love blogs and blogging for two reasons: 1) It gives me a place to express my varied interests. I love talking about a little of this and a little of that. A few blogs label my blog as a "lifestyle" blog and while I'm not totally sure what that means, I'd venture to guess that it's a nice way of saying I don't really fit into any one category ("design", "cooking", "fashion", "organizing") but rather that I touch upon them all a little bit. I kinda like it like that. 2) I glean an incredible amount of inspiration from others thanks to blogs. My quality of life, in a way, has increased and for that I am thankful. Isn't it amazing how much talent is out there?

Design Mom was the first blog I ever read consistently, daily even, and I'm honored to be sharing a few things with you this week on this wonderful, inspiring blog.

photo by Rebecca Mudrick of Darling Art Photography

Keep Em Busy Activities — by Guest Mom Amy Stigler

As essential as planning the food is organizing a few activities to keep the kids engaged. Once again, we keep it pretty simple and try to involve our kids in the planning and preparations. In fact, it has become so routine, our oldest sets up 'activity stations' on any given weekend evening, regardless of whether guests are scheduled. A few insights:

Kid's-height table = Kid magnet.
I have found that by centrally locating a few small tables and covering them with 'curiosities' I ensure two things: the kids keep busy AND they congregate where we want them to. I strategically place a few engaging items on the tables — pipe cleaners, crayons, puzzles, etc. Inevitably its almost always the first place the kids explore when they arrive at our house. It also makes things a little easier for child that is shy or uncertain of who to interact with when they arrive. Before dinner we just clear the tables and use them for kid-height-dining. An affordable & easy- to-clean option is the IKEA Lack table. We have a few of them on hand and pull them out depending on the crowd.



Yin/Yang Activities.
Weather permitting, we always hope to be outside for some portion of the evening. In the winter, we may try to squeeze a pre-dinner sled in and our summer parties almost always end around the bonfire. Regardless of whether we are in or out, we always try to start with something something active and end with something quiet.

Favorite Active Activities.
-paper airplanes: launch and chase, launch & chase.
-bear hunt: into the 'woods' (or basement) .... sooo scary.
-dance party: great inside or out. remember the balloons. we also love "flashlight dancing" in the dark.
-obstacle course/relays/sack races: great energy expenders.
-'recess games': kickball, t-ball, four-square ... adults have a blast playing along!

Favorite Quiet Activities.
-coloring: we set out a few Ed Emberley books, crayons & a stack of paper and its magic.
-crafts: sculpting/collaging/anything semi-containable (no glitter & glue unless outside!)
-movies: we love anything by Miyazaki or we might Tivo 'Oswald' for the little ones
-story-time: librarian-style (up front, kids at feet) or mommy-style (in BIG bed, mash of kids)
-bonfire: after the initial s'mores & excitement, this is fall-asleep-mesmerizing (we even sometimes set up a tent for 'snoozers')



Interactive Desserts.
The meal may be the main course for the adults but for the kids its all about sweets. My kids anyway. When we entertain with kids we often indulge their sweet tooth just a little bit. Ok. Sometimes a lot. Our favorite trick is to make the dessert 'interactive' .... we figure that they are burning through some of the sugar-energy while they are creating. And I swear they eat less after they have 'played' with the goodies.

Our Favorites:
-Cupcake Bar: We pre-frost the cupcakes and let the kids decorate with colored sugars & little candies. Sunday bar works too (but we reserve this for summer).
-Cookie Sandwiches: We bake chocolate chip cookies and then put out 2 or 3 icecreams and let the kids make their own 'icecream sandwich.' To simplify, you could purchase Nabisco chocolate wafers. Roll sandwiches in sprinkles for added excitement.
-Marshmallow "Snow People": bamboo sticks (structure), marshmallows (body), a touch of frosting (glue), licorice (scarf) and some colorful candies (eyes, buttons, etc) make the cutest snow people! you can also make aliens or clowns .... just vary the candies.
-S'mores: the quintessential interactive dessert. Use chocolate graham crackers and white chocolate for a twist on tradition.

On that sweet note, its time to say "adieu.' I have really enjoyed posting this week ... its been such fun to share ..... and while I realize not all tips will be useful to all of you (ie. bonfires in the city???), I hope everyone gleaned some little tidbit of inspiration!

The Foods. — by Guest Mom Amy Stigler

Rather than menus I thought I would talk about the specific foods we heavily rely on when guests are coming. The premise with all of our menus is that the kids dinner can be a variation of the adult dinner. Of course, the kids are always welcome to eat what the adults are eating but I can work the ingredients into a meal that appeals to even the pickiest eater.

Chicken: I generally purchase chicken breasts and cut them into 'tenderloin size pieces.' In the summer they get marinated with a little olive oil, S&P, garlic and lemon and go on the grill. In the winter we bread the chicken (dipped in egg & homemade bread crumbs) and bake it. The kids love these chicken 'fingers' and we serve them with veggies and dip. For the adults I may toss the chicken in a salad and serve it with crusty bread or I may make an easy chicken parmigiana like this one.



Pasta: Of course, the possibilities are endless. I love to make a tomato & cream sauce that is really simple and appeals to vegetarian friends and kids alike. Its basically a 'vodka sauce' minus the vodka. I just use a heavier hand when garnishing the adult portions with basil & good parmesan. This is also excellent served as a side to the chicken. Or with turkey meatballs.

Pizza: Most popular at our house. Our easiest 'time-crunch' menu is to order thin crust 'take & bake' pizza which we may then embellish with goat cheese, roasted tomatoes & fresh herbs. Even better is to pick up pizza dough (or make it yourself) and have guests make their own individual pizzas.

Salmon: (wild, preferably!). My kids love salmon. I just brush a filet with some olive oil and then cover it completely with thinly sliced lemon & dill. It is so quick and simple and crowd-pleasing. Couscous and a salad (or crudite for the kids) complete the meal.

I will end the week with a few of our favorite activities that keep the kids entertained ... stay tuned ....

Food & Drink — by Guest Mom Amy Stigler

Today I thought I would just chat about all things food …. and drink. In addition to suggesting a few of our favorite things to serve I thought I would start with a few of our food-and-drink-related rules of thumb.

Happy - Appy's.
Snacking is seemingly when my kids get 'their fill' especially in social situations. So I make sure I include a few healthy appetizers. The staples are veggie sticks (carrots, celery, cuc's, endive leaves) and some kind of chip & dip: pita chips & hummous, blue chips & guacamole, pretzels and sweet-cheese (mix roasted sweet peppers & cream cheese in the blender). The key is having a 'dippy' — my kids are dip-crazy!

Another direction I sometimes take is to do a bruschetta. The reason it works so well is that through slight modification it can appeal to both kids & adults. For example, in the kids version you might just omit the pesto. The other reason I like it is that is can be varied in so many ways and can be seasonally specific. It also just plain looks pretty!



Noshing Tray. What I generally do is put all the appetizers on a platter or "noshing tray" so that I can move the snacks from room to room or inside to outside as the party progresses. I also scatter around little bowls of (mildly) spiced almonds (up higher if little little ones are around). They keep beautifully in the freezer so I make a big batch and just toast them in the oven for a few minutes before guests arrive.



Pitchers, Pitchers, Pitchers. And glasses. Having a pitcher of water ready to go before the meal is served is a huge time-saver at our house. Otherwise, I am up and down up and down up and down. I always use one (or two) at parties. Allowing the kids to 'help themselves' really helps me. And for the adults, a pitcher of a signature cocktail is always festive, pretty & easy. A favorite is champagne, pomegranate juice and a splash of Grand Marnier. Perfect for Valentines Day.

I also suggest giving each child a unique or personalized glass. Anything that identifies the glass as their own alleviates extra dishes & waste. I have a set of vintage glasses with numbers on them (the kids love to pick their age) or you can personalize paper cups with cute name-tags.

Pot Luck. My friends are always more than happy to bring something and I am always more than happy to take them up on it. One thing I often suggest my guests bring is fresh fruit. The kids love to snack on it before, during and after the meal and fruit goes well with nearly everything. Dessert is another easy item to assimilate and seeing what friends bring often gives me sweet inspiration!

Skewer it. My kids will eat almost anything if it is on a skewer. We skewer fruit, veggies, meat, or a combo of veggies & meat. Skewer and serve with a dip and its almost fool proof! Skewering works well when grilling out but I also skewer food after it has been cooked, no matter how it has been prepared (ie. sauteed chicken & blanched broccoli). A variation on this theme is to give the kids toothpicks and a bowl of fruit or veggies and let them at it.

Tomorrow I will talk a bit about our 'go-to' menu items...

Setting the Stage — by Guest Mom Amy Stigler

Today I thought I would talk a little bit about pre-party considerations. I've dubbed it "setting the stage"...

Everybody Helps:
We have learned that having the kids help with the preparations benefits us twofold — it keeps them busy before guests arrive and it heightens their anticipation. It also gives them a sense of 'party-ownership' which they really love. Of course, the preferred pre-party task is 'dessert making' and we indulge them on occasion. But we may also ask them to organize a fun 'kid' activity (staging an obstacle course) or to help with the decorations (making placemats for each guest). And tidying up rooms & play areas is a necessary pre-party task.

If the season permits we take the kids to the farmer's market in the morning and let them pick out one thing that we will incorporate into the evening — it can be a 'strange' veggie or a bouquet of wildflowers. Their choice.




Pick a Theme (any Theme):
I have found that if I chose a 'theme' everything falls into place a little more seamlessly. Note: I am using the word theme somewhat loosely (no elaborate disney-inspired affairs required). But any element — whether its color, season, holiday, cuisine — that pulls things together helps focus the evening. For me, it serves as a point of reference so that all aspects of the party — the food, the music, the decor, the activities — fall into place.

There is almost always a holiday to cull inspiration from. For instance, February parties most likely involve hearts and xoxo's. Or we might focus on the food — do a 'taco bar' which would inspire Mariachi music, lime-aid (or Pacifico for the adults) & a pinata. We also may invite the younger kids to 'dress up' — which for our family means princess and pirate rather than "sunday best."



Make it (a little bit) Special:
It may just be a Saturday evening in March but with fresh flowers, lit candles, linen napkins (admittedly, I like to iron) and bagged ice even the average evening is exalted. And my kids love anything that smacks of 'fanciness.' My husband and I think it may even improve their manners. Nothing needs to be fussy or overdone. Flowers or branches clipped from your yard and put in a jelly jar can be just the right touch. I really believe the old adage 'eating take-out on good china makes it taste better' rings true. If we are eating inside and the kids are a bit older I prefer to serve their food off of 'real' china and their drinks out of 'real' glass. Again, nothing too precious. Thrift stores have adorable/inexpensive options.

Another special touch is to send out a hand written invitation beforehand which, in turn, is a great way to have the children practice their penmanship or artistry. What kid doesn't love to receive an invitation in the mail? Or I may send the kids home with a favor bag. Again, nothing overwrought — it can be filled with their artwork or craft and a simple treat. And goodie bags also offer just the right amount of encouragement to get in the car when its time to say goodbye.

Kid Friendly Dinner Parties — by Guest Mom Amy Stigler

Hello Everyone! It's so nice to have been invited to be a guest mom on one of my favorite blogs — thanks Gabrielle!

This week I thought I would do a series of posts about "entertaining with kids." The impetus is that my husband and I love to host parties, but because we have three young children we needed to figure out a way to entertain that was kid friendly. Formal late-night cocktail parties were no longer very practical.

Luckily, we have found that while we still enjoy the occasional larger scale soiree, one of our favorite things to do is to invite a handful of friends and their children over for dinner. Sometimes we keep it really simple (take out and a movie) and sometimes we go a little fancy (kid-appropriate gourmet & games). Either way, we've found it to be the perfect way to catch up with our friends and the kids always seem to delight in these evening 'playdates.'

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to share some of our tips for hosting a family style gathering that is fun and entertaining for the children which in turn makes it enjoyable and relaxing for the adults. Well, as relaxing as a house filled with up to a dozen kids can be!



Just a few immediate thoughts to start off the week:

-We have found that having 2 families (or anywhere from 10-14 people total) is a really good number. It's not too overwhelming but it still feels festive.
-Saturday evenings are perfect — more preparation time for us and the kids are a bit more rested. 5:30-9ish is the norm.
-Setting up a port-a-crib in a quiet place is always nice for friends with the under 2 set. I also encourage the kids to bring their PJs so everyone can just tuck in when they get home.
-Even on the 'fancier' evenings I usually take at least one shortcut — whether its buying a simple dessert (like ice cream sandwiches) or scheduling a post-dinner movie for the kids — it just makes things a wee bit more manageable.
-On the other hand, even on the simplest of evenings I incorporate a few special touches. I will elaborate on this a bit tomorrow.
-Music is key for us and we LOVE pandora. You just plug in a favorite artist and voila! it creates an instant playlist. Some of our favorite 'kid/dance friendly' channels are: Dan Zanes, Kool & the Gang, Ray Charles & Bob Marley. And then we switch gears during & after dinner — Edith Piaf, Astrud Gilberto, Billy Holiday, Tom Waits ...
-Scattering balloons around is easy and instant entertainment for the kids. Music + balloons = happy dancing kids.

Ok. That is it for now ... more to come in the days to follow. Also, I look forward to hearing your thoughts & ideas too.

Welcome Amy.

What a treat! We have a Guest Mom this week. (It's been awhile, hasn't it?) And I can't wait to introduce her.

Her name is Amy Graham Stigler. She's a stationery designer and a mother. I don't know here personally, but I became a fan of her work when I posted about the letterpress shop, Smock. Amy is their creative director and designer and as I read more about her my admiration grew. There's a mini bio of Amy on the Smock site, and I'm borrowing parts of it to share with you here:

Amy’s love for beautiful and beautifully made things, dates back to her childhood in Wisconsin, where she spent her time running from pillar to post (most often barefoot), exploring and sketching the minutiae of nature. Her childhood love of art and books eventually turned into a profession: she studied art history while working at the Art Institute of Chicago and The Museum of Contemporary Art.

During her decade in Chicago, Amy founded the internationally known stationery company Snow & Graham. Eventually, she and her growing family left the city for a quieter Wisconsin town, so her children could grow up in the same natural landscape of her childhood.

Some of Amy's inspirations: antique embroidered linens / monograms & family crests / vintage wallpapers / blockprinted fabrics / slightly overblown flowers / old envelopes with a mess of stamps & handwriting & postmarks / hand-lettering / the photographs of Julia Margaret Cameron / kindhearted people / the detailing on vintage clothes / slightly tattered architecture / slightly tattered anything.

Isn't she lovely? We're so glad you're here, Amy. Thank you for coming.

Schoolyard Gardens — by Guest Mom Rochelle

Our local school is trying to get a schoolyard garden and I'm doing what I can to support the effort. Ideally, it would be something really lovely — like the edible schoolyard that Chef Alice Waters helped create at the MLK school in Berkeley, California.

The Edible Schoolyard website lists 20 good reasons to support a student garden and kitchen in your local schools. I can think of so many more, but my favorites are: “The garden and kitchen are beautiful spaces that connect students to their school. They provide a context for rituals and celebrations. And a kitchen and garden promote risk taking, such as trying new things...foods, activities and making new friends.”

If you're interested in more information, I am continuing the schoolyard garden theme at studio g today with more postings about specific ways to fund a garden and ideas for getting started on a small scale. And may I also say, thank you so much for the opportunity to be a Guest Mom this week — it's been lovely!

photo by Jen Sundeen

Book of the Week — The Day They Parachuted Cats on Borneo — posted By Guest Mom Rochelle

As someone with a career based on the outdoors, ecology is on my mind. A lot. And I try to pass what I know on to my children. A great book for introducing kids to ecology, and the knock-on effects that our actions have on our environment, is called The Day They Parachuted Cats on Borneo by Charlotte Pomeranz.

Bad news: the book is out of print. Good news: your library probably has a copy. For more fun: I am giving away a couple of garden books over at studio g. Come by and check it out.

Tree House Update — by Guest Mom Rochelle

You may remember this time last year, we had just started our tree house endeavor. Phase 1 (thanks to grandpa) was the platform, Phase 2 was to make it safe (i.e.add a railing) and paint it. Here is where we are now. I love the way the rope looks and we went with red to match our barn.

So now we are onto phases 3 and 4: make the ladder safer and nicer and start adding features. Here are some of the cool swings we are considering.



Teak Swing from DWR, the leaf swing from Enea Studio, and the beautiful handcrafted oak swing from the Garden Boutique that you can customize with your own poem. Or possibly the romantic swing from Droog — it has planters in the sides and comes with seeds so that the vines will grow up the ropes. (Available through Poaa.com)

The Share Chair — by Guest Mom Rochelle

Normally I am not a huge advocate for plastic in the garden, but this chair and the rest of the collection of kids furniture by Inekehans Collection (available in the US through Wabnitz Editions) is the absolute exception.

I love the black recycled plastic that blends into the landscape and I love that learning to share is built right in. They also have a great line up of furniture for big people gardens that we are featuring at Studio g.

Flower Shop — by Guest Mom Rochelle

I love the kids stuff that comes out of France. When I saw this mini flower shop on Madame La Marchande, I fell in love, then quickly realized getting it shipped here was out of the question. So I've been considering how to make my own version. Here is what I came up with:



1) Paper parasols at Luna Bazaar.
2) Silk flowers from any local craft shop.
3) Cute watering can from Spotty Boxes.
4) French Flower Buckets from Flowers and Supplies.
5) Either of these two Ikea tables will work — the Hemnes table is almost a perfect match, and the Dalom table (which is much less expensive) would work as well.

I'm so excited to try and put this together!

Hello Again Rochelle!

What a great thing. I get to reintroduce Rochelle Greayer as a Guest Mom. Last year, her scheduled Guest Mom week was cut short. But luckily, she's here again with all sorts of wisdom about landscaping and gardens and other good stuff. I'll let Rochelle say Hello:

I am so glad to be back again guest blogging at ‘Design Mom’. It was almost a year ago exactly that I last guested and a lot has happened since. My daughter went to kindergarten, and my son to preschool (both for the first time), we went aupair-less for the first time since having children (wow, it is really nice to not be living with my child care provider anymore!), I continued to grow my design business and I launched a design blog of my own called ‘Studio g’. Whew!

I would love for you all to come visit and let me know what you think. ‘Studio g’ is inspired by many my favorite blogs (Design Mom, decor8 and Design*Sponge) but talks about garden and landscape design instead of interiors or kids stuff. I happen to think this is a very overlooked corner of the design world and would like to try and elevate it a bit. I will be posting all week in both places — here with a slant towards gardens, design, kids, motherhood and families and there with my normal mix of goodies.

Farewell Friends — by Guest Mom Mrs. Dub

Happy Halloween!

In all my Design Mom excitement, I totally didn't come up with a costume. I'm thinking about going as a SAHM, complete with workout shoes, lounge pants and — wait for it — minimal jewelry. Those close to me know that I'm an accessory junkie, so that would be big for me. Same with wearing workout shoes in public, though I am contemplating buying some sensible "mommy" shoes for the winter. The lounge pants aren't so much of a stretch. (You: "But they're so comfortable!" Me: I know!)

Whatever you are going as, I like it. Because I like you. You've all been far too kind to me and my posts, especially the one about Baby Zee. (Spoiler alert: Her given name is Zella.) Thank you for sending your love and prayers and sharing your own experiences and losses. Life is not fair, but it is beautiful.

Speaking of beautiful, isn't this blog beautiful? I've been so impressed by Gabby as I've gotten to know her. It's amazing that she can juggle her various responsibilities and still find time to appreciate the simplistic beauty of things and, more importantly, motherhood. If we could give her a standing ovation, I would, but it's kind of awkward when Mr. Dub asks me why I'm clapping in my pajamas.

By the way, where the H is Gabby finding all this stuff? Pretending to be Design Mom for a week nearly gave me IBS. I wish I was a fraction as creative and resourceful as her, but I'm also glad to be me, because no one expects much beyond the occasional funny post. I was totally unqualified to be here, but you made me feel welcome. Thanks.

Isn't it wonderful that we can all be so different and yet be united by our common natures? Mothers. Women. Humans.



I hope that you spend this weekend forgetting your to-do list - you know, the one with long-term, unrealistic goals like, "Make my outfits from sustainable fabrics before work each morning" - and reflect on your "done" list: the things that you've accomplished because of who you innately are and not who you want to be. It will make you feel good.

If you ever get bored, come visit me at www.mrsdub.com. The door is always open, along with my big mouth.

Happy haunting!
Mrs. Dub

stone pumpkins from Grandin Road

Sew What? — by Guest Mom Mrs. Dub

So I'm the third girl in my family, with a little brother finishing it off. My mother is a quilter. And no, not the kind of quilts your mom made with all your soccer jerseys. My mom is a quilt artist, as is evidenced by her "stash" seen here. (Though I can assure that is only a small sampling of her fabric. The quantity of material in that woman's possession is illegal in 23 states.)

My other two sisters are excellent seamstresses. One sewed my wedding invitations, the other sews her own winter coats. I, on the other hand, am just learning how to thread a bobbin.

I've frequently pestered my mom as to why I was never taught to sew, since it's clearly in our blood. She claims she tried, and I wasn't interested. Probably true, as I very involved with boy-chasing as a youth, but it's a huge regret of mine, because sewing is, like, the best thing EVER.

The point of this rambling is that when I finally learn to sew I am going to immediately make this beautiful headband by giantdwarf — after first sewing some curtains and some pillow covers and adorning every last sweater I own with a bird. Then, I'm going to make it, and I'm going to wear it every day, even to the grocery store. And then I'll go home and die because I'll be 95 by the time I figure out that stupid bobbin.

via sweet sassafras

Butter Issues — by Guest Mom Mrs. Dub

Sometimes I hate blogging. I turn on my computer and feel like a hundred voices are screaming at me — "Buy organic!" "Live in the moment!" "Sew everything!" "Be true to yourself." It often makes me feel worse about myself, even while enriching me. Like anything, there is too much of a good thing.

The best perk of blogging, however, is the way it has made me more conscious. I'm more aware about my feelings, my preferences, my aesthetic and my choices than before I started reading. Seeing the homes and belongings of other people has made me more aware of the choices available to me. As a result, I don't settle as much when buying household goods.

Unfortunately, this is why I don't have a butter dish.

First, a confession: I grew up in margarine household — Country Crock, to be specific. (It was the 80's, can you blame us?) When I grew up and married a butter-loving man, we compromised and now break out the butter on special(er) occasions, like Sunday dinners.

For the last five years, I've just been throwing that butter on a small dessert plate. It's not totally offensive, but it isn't the best way to care for butter. Most of the time, it gets all smooshy and ends up down the drain.

However, my conscious buying has prevented me from getting a formal butter dish. Every time I go to Target, I stop and look at their small array of butter dishes and think, "You can do better." (No offense, Target; it's me, not you.) A plain, white ceramic butter dish wouldn't be the end of the world, but wouldn't one of these be even better? Then again, some of these are pricey! At least boring costs less than $10.

Clockwise from left:
1. Michael Graves for Alessi via Unica Home, $119 (!!)
2. Fiestaware at Macy's, $32
3. Blomus dish at Pure Modern, $46.34
4. Alessi stainless dish via Unica Home, $87

Hosting for Dummies — by Guest Mom Mrs. Dub

Like many in the DM Club, I have a compulsion to throw parties. I would actually prefer to be a guest at a cool gathering, but so would everyone else, so I play party martyr a few times a year. My biggest weakness is baby showers. I could meet you in the check-out line, and I would offer to host your shower. (That actually happened.)

Thankfully, my bestie and her sis run Gourmet Girls. Everything I know I've learned (= stolen) from them and their long line of culinary-minded kin.

Thus, if I had to give one tip for throwing a big bash it would be to copy someone else. It's always easier in my opinion, and you know it's worked before. (Unlike Mr. Dub's proposed grilled cheese party: BYOC. Get it?)

Here are a few other tips I've learned from them and from my own hosting gigs, though this might be a big "duh" for some of you seasoned party peeps. However, if you ever read this blog and feel a tad insecure like me, here you go:

* Lots of food, little table - While your table will be crowded, an overflowing smorgasbord looks more impressive than a spartan spread, even if it's the same amount of food. If you are going for a modern look, you can still benefit from a smaller space; just organize food into tight rows.

* Plate up - Use tiered trays and cake stands to add height and interest to your spread. Easy.

* Personalized dishware = homemade - I'm all about convenience foods, especially with the gourmet variety now available at warehouse and grocery stores. The key is to plate them on something equally beautiful. Do not serve it out of a plastic container, or I will fight you.

* Pick your battles - Do NOT convince yourself you are going to try 10 new recipes for the big event. First, you'll freak out the night before and edit the list down, wasting a ton of groceries, and then Mr. Dub will give you that look. Second, you don't have the time or energy. Just pick a few "wow" items from your repertoire and supplement the rest with pre-made items and easy dishes.

* Ten percent rule - I totally stole this from the Gourmet Girls, who always plan for 10 percent more food than they think they need. (Understanding that typically one-third of your guest list won't show.) You'll probably go home with leftovers, but better than than seeing your guests stop by Taco Bell on the way out.

* Let it go - When it's time to party, party! You do want to be on top of refills, but don't be a slave to the kitchen. You did the work; you deserve to enjoy it. It's not worth it if you are counting the minutes until everyone leaves. (Unless it's your awkward friend who always talks about her ex-boyfriend -- from tenth grade. That's understandable.)

image via the amazing Amy Atlas

Spooky Snacks — by Guest Mom Mrs. Dub

Halloween is a sacred occasion at Mr. Dub's workplace. Their annual party is NOT to be missed, both because it is over-the-top and because, well, you gots to make nice with the boss sometimes, you dig?

Every year, they put on a killer Halloween party with serious prizes (= $$) for various things like coolest costume and best plant photo. (We dressed our spathaphyllum as Hugh Heffner surrounded by Miss Dub's baby dolls, but the photos were mysteriously deleted when I accidentally hit delete. Maybe it was a sign?)

This year we have our eyes on the spookiest snack contest. Last year there was some freaky contenders, but this year I want to win. There is a fine line between clever and repulsive, so I'm leaning towards something tasty with a seasonal twist. Here are a few ideas I found (once again) on the BHG website, although some aren't very creepy. But someone needs to make something you actually want to eat, right?

p.s. Mr. Dub just informed me we are making this rat-infested cheesecake via Delish. Looks like a winner!

Glamma Fabulous — by Guest Mom Mrs. Dub

Glamma Fabulous is a woman with so much creative energy that you can't stop by her home without making an impromptu craft or two. She can turn anything ordinary into something extraordinary, which makes her (as the name implies) fabulous. Glamma is a local artist, mother to five talented women, "glamma" to 10.5 grandkids and wife to a man who makes the meanest ribs in the West. Her speciality is holiday crafts, and Halloween is her favorite. You'll have to visit her blog to understand the depth of her H-day passion. I'm especially digging her Nightmare Before Christmas-esque decorations.

Flower Power by Guest Dad James — by Guest Mom Mrs. Dub

I'm about to blow your minds with a blogosphere first: guest blog within a guest blog. Did your head just explode? Sorry. As I mentioned, I'm a bit unqualified to give design advice, but I'm lucky to be surrounded by talented friends and family, like my brother-in-law, James. He's not only a caring husband and father to two boys, but he's the owner of Flowers on Main. Let me tell you, his floral arrangements aren't just pretty; they're art! I put back on my reporter cap and interviewed him about fall floral care. Then, I asked for a free arrangement.

MD: Why are flowers so essential to celebrating seasons?
James: Flowers are always for the moment. Flowers are the crowning jewel of any holiday; they bring colors, textures and fragrances you can't get any other way.

MD: How can you make your flowers live longer?
James: The biggest killer of fresh flowers is bacteria in the water. To maximize vase life, always use professional floral preservative in your water. If none is available, add a teaspoon of Clorox to a quart of water. Make sure that your bouquet has plenty of water. Flowers drink a lot more when they are not in a collr. Change the water when it looks like the water is getting cloudy. This is also a good time to recut the stems with a sharp knife. This will reopen the path for more water uptake.

MD: What are some good fall flowers?
James: Mums, lilies, gerberas, roses, hypericum berries, leaves, branches, hydrangia, sunflowers, rovers, safflower, coxcomb, purple majesty, kale, solidego, artichokes, just to name a few.

MD: What's your favorite flower?
James: I love most any flower when it's in season and at its peak of perfection.
MD: Very diplomatic.

MD: Want to put in a shameless plug?
James: Sure. You can find us online at www.flowersonmainstreet.com.
MD: Did you mention your shop is inside a cozy, vintage home?
James: No, I didn't, but it is.

image from Rose and Radish

Making Nice With Halloween — by Guest Mom Mrs. Dub

Warning: Halloween isn't really my holiday. I know, poor timing on the Guest Momming, right? Actually, no holiday is really my holiday because I'm very much an "every-day-is-a-holiday" kind of spontaneous person, so any form of obligatory tradition rubs my anarchist self the wrong way. Mr. Dub calls me a communist; I prefer impulsive.

Ideological reasons aside, Halloween is typically neglected at my house. I blame the limited black-orange combo and cheesy, gory décor of years past. It just felt tasteless to me. Plus, I live in an apartment (sigh), and one has to limit seasonal accents, or it ends up looking comical.

However, things have changed in the last few years. There is now a whole slew of Gothic-inspired Halloween décor that is classy and cool. Plus, green, purple and white have rounded out the Halloween palette, giving us more visual possibilities.

This year I'm really digging on black and white — black birds, white pumpkins, black and white polka-dot ribbon — though you need a dose of orange for good measure. Here's a sample of what I'm currently adoring:


{1. I heart this black feather wreath from Pottery Barn. It hints at gore but has a lot of glamour. I'm sure you could make this yourself, but I don't condone killing birds. Besides, it's on sale.

2. All you need is some black paint and a homemade stencil of something spooktacular to make these classy creepy pumpkin silhouettes, seen here.

3. The intricate lattice work on these green gourds look Victorian, giving these pretty pumpkins an antique glow. Of course, Martha is behind this labor-intensive project. My hands hurt just thinking about it. Probably not worth it.

4. An easier, but equally delightful pumpkin display found on Delish. Little bits of ribbon glued around small gourds scream "Halloween," but could easily be swapped out for a fall ribbon palette come November.}

And there's so much more out there, like this slideshow from Better Homes & Gardens' website. I must admit this magazine used to cater to people who collect roosters, but it's recently become one of my favorite home mags thanks its increasing variety and modernity. Just check out a sampling of their pumpkin designs. Swoon!

Welcome to Mrs. Dub

Please say hello to Mrs. Dub. And I'll say hello as well, because Mrs. Dub is a new friend to me. I don't know Mrs. Dub at all in real life. And I barely know her digitally. But I do know that she has been really great about emailing me with recommendations for possible Guest Moms. And her emails are always clever. So I started checking out her blog and thought she'd make a terrific Guest Mom herself. Mrs. Dub has written up a lovely little introductory post — I can't wait to get to know her:



What am I doing here?

That's a question I've been asking myself since I was invited to guest blog here at Design Mom. I like pretty things, I like to read about pretty things, but I don't find or create pretty things very often.

I like writing. I love words. I adore syntax. I — forgive me, for I have sinned — even adore alliteration when used appropriately. I once made out with grammar. So while I have the credentials to be a blogger, I don't know that I'm qualified to be a Guest Mom.

But here I am, and here you are, and, oh my, is this already the fourth paragraph?

About me: My name is not Mrs. Dub, but let's just say it's a sensible pseudonym. I blog at here, but I used to blog here. I am wife to one Mr. Dub and mother to a (just turned!) two-year-old we call Miss Dub. I'm also proud mom to Baby Zee, but she only lived for one minute outside my womb in February.

I've lived in the Chicagoland area for 3+ years. I was really freaked out by the word Chicagoland when I first got here and said I would never use it, but three years of Midwest living changes a gal. I'm in love with the city, hate the weather and miss my Arizona upbringing six months out of the year. All in all, life is good.

Before Miss Dub, I worked as a reporter, and still call myself a journalist, mostly to sound cool. I write a quarterly column for Eliza magazine and do some other stuff on the side. I've written the first 100 pages of several different novels. When I die my children can publish them as a collection of short stories, because short stories are much more palatable when you're dead. (IMHO.) (Also, I hate Web acronyms.)

I hope that you will bear with me, my writing, my finds and my poor photography skills.

I regret I'm not one of those moms –the kind who leave you wondering how they do it all, in antique shades of turquoise to boot – but I am a mom, and I couldn't think of anything else I'd rather be.

Happy reading!

Children’s Books: My Favorites — by Guest Mom Wendy Baldauf

My dear friend’s daughter just celebrated her 8th birthday, and I got her books. A smattering of my favorites. It was hard to choose — there are so many great ones — but these are some of the books I got for her:

Pink and Say by Patricia Polocco
This book makes me cry every time I read it. It’s a good book to have if you have 5th graders, because it’s about the Civil War, which is part of the 5th grade social studies curriculum. It has generated so many great questions with my own kids- so much learning.

The Sunsets of Miss Olivia Wiggins by Lester Laminack
Another tear-jerker. It’s a sweet story of a great-grandmother with Alzheimer’s- totally tender and moving, and perfect for helping children understand the disease.

Tulip Sees America by Cynthia Rylant
If you have a 3rd grader, they’ll be learning all about cardinal directions this year- get this book. Get a map of the United States, and while you’re reading it, have your kids tell you which direction Tulip is heading. So fun.

A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck
This is a terrific read-aloud! Grandma Dowdel is unforgettable, and by the last chapter you’ll love her so much, the end of the book will have you in tears. Or maybe it’s just me…

Sister Light, Sister Dark by Jane Yolen
This is book one in the Great Alta series, there are three books in the series so far. All about girl power, these books are good for girls from 12-90+, but younger girls may be able to handle them as a read-aloud. Such a great storyline- I’ve read it a few times and each time, I can’t put it down.

Oh, if I only had time to share every favorite on my list. I’d need at least 5 blog entries! I hope you are able to read these and enjoy them.

Gifted and Talented: A Semi-Rant — By Guest Mom Wendy Baldauf

There has been a lot of discussion in PTA circles about the gifted and talented program — what brand of enrichment is it, who is entitled, and who ought to be included but isn’t. In our district the program for the gifted and talented kids is called WINGS, and it’s available to the brightest students in grades 3-8. (That word is italicized because it’s such a loaded and irritating word for me — more on that in a minute...)

Each elementary school in the district has its own WINGS teacher, which means the quality of the enrichment at each school varies because some of the WINGS instructors aren’t great. Sadly, my kid’s school isn’t the best in the district in this regard, but my kids have been and are currently in WINGS: Jesse, who is 15, was included during 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, and Grace, my 4th grader, was invited to join this year. That being said, I’m not convinced it’s actually a positive experience for students.

The mommy-discussions range from “my kid should be included and isn’t” to “it’s so elitist” to “why can’t every student be included?” to “it gives kids with big heads even bigger heads.”

Because of the intrinsic unfairness with giving enrichment to only the brightest, our district has adjusted the program to include everyone in a full-class setting: the WINGS teacher pushes in to each class once a cycle and delivers a fun lesson that is curriculum-based. Even so, the program in our district has unfortunately taken on a “have/ have not” persona — many kids, who are not invited to join WINGS, automatically view themselves as ‘not smart.’ I hear it all the time! This in an indication that the entire system is flawed.

Now, don’t get me wrong: I wouldn’t deny any gifted kid the chance to progress and grow. If our own child was an awesome soccer player, wouldn’t we find her a team? If our child was naturally artistic, wouldn’t we sign her up for lessons? Yes, of course, we would. Same goes for every kid who performs consistently above grade level — that kid deserves to be intellectually challenged.

However, in every class there are bright kids who do not excel academically. Maybe they’re poor test takers. Maybe they weren’t born with a math brain. I clearly remember a conversation I had with my daughter Jesse as a 3rd grader: we were talking about WINGS, and she said “Clara should be in WINGS because she writes cool poetry. And Madison should be too because she’s great friend.” There are so many ways to be great and special, but we’ve been programmed to think that success = academic success and poor academic success = failure. And the whole ‘I’m smart/I’m not smart’ polarization really ticks me off.

If you’re as interested in these things as I am, and would like to read an interesting perspective on education, I just finished a book entitled: Real Education: Four Simple Truths for Bringing Americas Schools Back To Reality by Charles Murray. His in-your-face attitude about public education is refreshing and bold, and his views about how to fix the system are surprising. His perspective certainly challenges some of my closely-held beliefs, particularly about higher education.

Note from Design Mom: the sketches at the top are by my brother-in-law Paul Ferney. He's a fantastic artist — definitely gifted and talented. : ) He's participating in Open Studios this weekend in San Francisco. If you're in the Bay area, you should totally stop by and say Hello.

The Thing I Wish All Parents Knew Before Their Kids Start Kindergarten — by Guest Mom Wendy B

If you take nothing else from my visit here, please take this piece of information and use it:

If you are involved in your child’s school, in whatever capacity, your kid will fare better academically than the kid whose parents aren’t/can’t be involved.

There is so much literature out there supporting parent involvement in schools, it’s silly to imagine there are parents who simply choose not to pitch in. But in truth, there are social, economic and cultural barriers that prevent some parents from participating in their child’s school, even if they have a desire to do so. Each day I see parents who, when they have an appointment at school, need to pay a taxi for each ride because they don’t own a car and they live too far away to walk. Many times they simply cannot get there.

Single parenthood is another social and financial barrier — a very difficult, time-consuming and tiresome barrier. We acknowledge and appreciate all single parenthood entails. How can we argue with those single parents who simply do not have another ounce of energy for school events? I totally get that. I’ve been there. I could go on and on.

My plea then, to those of you who have been blessed with sound families and stable homes: please get involved with PTA and help support those sweet students — your kids’ friends — whose families are struggling. Not all parents can be involved; can you be involved? Your own children will be better, smarter, and more capable, and you will help support the entire school community — every child. It’s important.

In case you're interested, here are two adequate books on the subject:

Building School and Community Partnerships Through Parent Involvement, by Kay Wright and Delores Stegelin. In addition to the points I’ve already made, this book goes on to discuss the unique issues that are exclusive to those families with special needs students.

Parents Are Lifesavers: A Handbook for Parent Involvement in Schools, by Carol S. Batey. There is so much good stuff in this book for PTA members — it ought to be a must-read. It’s not exclusive to PTA though, and it has fantastic ideas for ways for you to get involved in a sort-of ‘don’t-wait-to-be-asked’ way.

‘Till tomorrow. . .

Note from Design Mom: the gorgeous illustration at the top was found on Definatalie. It was drawn in 1910 as a vision of what the year 2000 would be like. How cool is that? It's part of series and the collection is housed at the National Library of France.

Welcome Guest Mom Wendy!

I can't wait for you to meet my friend, Wendy! Wendy knows much about many topics, but one of the things she cares and thinks about the most is how parents can get involved in their child's school. Like most parents, she has strong opinions about what works and what doesn't — and she doesn't mind a bit if you don't agree with her.

So with that in mind, I asked Wendy to share her PTA-expert-wisdom with us. Also, I think I should mention that Wendy is gorgeous. She looks just like the lead in The Notebook. Identical.

Here's more introduction in Wendy's own words:



What’s up everybody? I’ve never blogged before, although I’m a frequent and enthusiastic visitor to this site. I’m honored to have been asked to join the fun! I’ve always thought the most perfect job on the planet would be having a syndicated opinion column, where I could just prattle on about anything I thought was relevant. So why don’t I blog? Seems like an even better deal, right?

Gabby asked me that question about 2 years ago, and my answer was, ‘my life isn’t that interesting…’ But I'm feeling like my life has gotten a lot more interesting (or at least busy-er), since I was installed as PTA president at my kids’ school.

I have learned a lot: about public education, about school politics, and most importantly, I’ve learned that most parents just want their kids to be comfortable, happy, intellectually challenged, and socially adjusted. Plus, they want to see the real, tangible examples of their kid’s progression. Many of the calls that I get are due to the lack of communication in these areas.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe, but there are many, many parents who do not use their voices to advocate for their own children. The job of the PTA, then, is to be an advocate for children and families who, for whatever reason, do not have a voice in their own school. My job as PTA president is to make sure everything gets done: to make sure there are enriching programs that benefit every student during school, to oversee and help to organize fun social functions after school hours that are accessible to everyone, to present clear communication between home and school about upcoming events and programs,

And since school has just begun, the best part of my job is getting to know new families, helping them feel at ease, giving out as many comforting hugs and words of encouragement as are needed, and showing them how to easily navigate the school hierarchy.

On another note, it seems to be a tradition for Guest Moms to share the things they love, but I’ve been asked to talk about all things PTA — and it feels like a boring introduction. : )

So let me show you some of the things I love — things I’m certain you won’t see on Gabby’s blog ever again:



1. Someday, I would love to own this 1967 Impala, or any hot late 60’s ride.

2. We just bought this bed, and it’s comfortable and beautiful, and every time I lay down I feel like someone should feed me grapes and fan me.

3. This is our boat, and I. LOVE. IT. We have so much fun and carefree family time on the lake, splashing around, skiing, and showing off. I realize it's not in everyone's budget — we had to save up for ages to get ours — but owning a boat is a terrific way to spend your summers. And work on your tan.

And now, I’ll dive right in and share my experience and thoughts about all things PTA. Hopefully by Friday I’ll have convinced you to pitch in and serve. I’m grateful to have been invited to linger this week and share my small area of expertise.

Decor-in-a-jar — by Guest Mom Cathe Holden

If you stand still in my house long enough, you're likely to get pickled.

I pickle most everything, sans the vinegar. Placing virtually any non-food objects in jars creates instant decor. Walking through my house the other day I noticed that I actually have more glass encased stuff than I would have ever guessed. I think of it as 3-dimensional framing.



Simple glass canisters make the best displays. In one I have a nest found abandoned in my father-in-law’s Sonoma vineyard by my kids while picking grapes. In another, cotton picked by my grandfather when he was young. Beads, buttons, nature finds, miscellaneous craft scraps and vintage game pieces fill other jars or bottles. I’ve a candy jar that holds a chubby little wooden horse carved and painted by my dad a few years ago and a large apothecary jar filled with potpourri and old book pages. One of my favorites is a little mason jar that holds a collection of unique rocks from camping trips that my children, as a tradition, find just for me.

Budget Birthdays — by Guest Mom Cathe Holden

When I was a kid, we didn't have a party for every birthday. We did, however, get to choose what was for dinner. Boy have times changed.

Money was very tight when my kids were little. You know how the saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Turns out to be a wonderful concept as it put my creativity into overdrive and my kids always had more fun when we created an event rather than simply hosting one.

When my son, Bennett, turned 3, (he’s now 13!) we held a birthday parade. At that time, we lived in a track-house neighborhood, which made for the best of parade routes. We invited guests to bring their bikes, wagons, skates and baby-doll strollers. We tied balloons to everything that moved. One mom pulled the wagon with the “Happy 3rd Birthday” sandwich-board that hid the boom-box blasting parade music. (As official parade director, I’m somewhere in the back.) We circled the hood to find neighbors coming out onto their porches and into their yards to wave us by. You’ve never seen a prouder group of tiny people. No one seemed to care that it was raining on our parade. Soon enough we were home for cake, ice cream and presents before everyone left happy and ready for a nap.



Homemade Invitations: $5...Balloons: $25...Cake & Ice Cream: $20...A birthday we’ll never forget: Priceless.

Sketchbook: Never Leave Home Without It — By Guest Mom Cathe Holden

As a graphic designer I have sketched and thumbnailed thousands of ideas over the years relating to client projects. Since becoming a parent I find my sketchbooks now overflowing with birthday cake and invitation designs, sketches of my children, ideas for unique products that are sure to make me millions (...lots of those), lists, quotes & scripture that hold special meaning, and many other things that pop into my head on a daily basis. Occasionally I will revisit past sketchbooks to find myself in different chapters of parenthood.

The turning point page is the one with tiny sketches of all the office furniture from my downtown design firm. This page takes me back 13 years ago when I made the decision to leave a corporate life and become a work-at-home mom. It’s a sketch of office furniture that I had in my office with my husband’s handwriting in the measurements. He helped me figure out what would fit in my new home-office in the garage, and what had to go. A bittersweet time then, but a blessing many times over.



I have a preference for large spiral-bound sketchbooks, found at most craft and art supply stores, for business and home. Moleskine blank journals are a favorite for keeping in my purse and car to log my thoughts on the go. Sketchbooks are my form of journaling life, one doodle at a time.

Welcome Cathe!

Oh my goodness. After a 5-week hiatus, we have a Guest Mom again! And she's a really good one. Fantastic. Please say Hello to Cathe Holden.

Cathe is the wife of a fireman and the mom of 3 great kids ages 11, 11 and 13. She works from home as a graphic designer in Northern California’s beautiful countryside among the dairies and vineyards on the outskirts of a wonderful little rivertown called Petaluma. Her blog, Just Something I Made, is a combination of craft and design inspiration.

I invited Cathe to join us here immediately after seeing her wonderful blog. And I'm so glad I did. She has such lovely things to share with us.

PS — Remember. You can enter the Kayce Hughes Giveaway until midnight tonight!

Auf Wiedersehen! — by Guest Mom Jane Maynard

Look at that, just 1 week guest blogging on Design Mom and the paparazzi SWARMED around me when I showed up at Berlin Fashion Week. It was total craziness.



Alright, not really.



What a week! Berlin! Design Mom! It's been fabulous! Thank you all for such awesome comments this week. You've shared great ideas, books, websites. You've said the nicest things. It's been so fun chatting with you all from across the Atlantic. Thank you!

Please come travel with me through Paris next week! I promise it will be beautiful and tasty. And definitely drop by This Week for Dinner regularly to share your weekly menus and recipes, and get great dinner ideas…mostly from the other readers, who never fail to inspire me in my daily, usually-semi-successful quest to make dinner.

Danke! Auf Wiedersehen!